A sagittal section of human brain is shown here. Identify at least two labels from A-D.

A – Cerebrum

The cerebrum is the largest and most prominent part of the brain, located in the upper part of the cranial cavity. It is responsible for a variety of functions, including:

• Sensory processing: It interprets input from the senses, such as sight, hearing, taste, and touch.
• Voluntary motor functions: It controls voluntary movements by sending signals to the muscles.
• Cognition: It plays a crucial role in thinking, memory, reasoning, and decision-making.
• Emotions: It helps regulate emotions and emotional responses.

The cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres (left and right) and is further divided into lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital), each responsible for specific functions like motor skills, language, and vision.

B – Thalamus

The thalamus is a small, egg-shaped structure located just above the brainstem. It serves as the brain's relay station, transmitting sensory and motor signals to the appropriate parts of the cerebral cortex. The thalamus is involved in:

• Sensory processing: It relays sensory information from the body to the cerebral cortex (except for smell).
• Motor control: It helps coordinate movement by sending motor signals from the cerebellum and basal ganglia to the motor cortex.
• Regulation of consciousness and sleep: The thalamus plays a role in regulating sleep patterns and alertness.

C – Pons

The pons is part of the brainstem, located above the medulla oblongata and below the midbrain. It plays an essential role in several functions, including:

• Regulation of breathing: The pons helps regulate the rate and depth of breathing by interacting with the medulla.
• Relay of signals: It serves as a bridge connecting different parts of the nervous system, including the cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla.
• Facial sensation and movement: The pons is involved in controlling facial muscles and transmitting sensations from the face to the brain.
• Sleep: It plays a role in the regulation of sleep and dreaming, particularly in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage.

D – Cerebellum

The cerebellum is located at the back of the brain, below the cerebrum and behind the brainstem. It is primarily responsible for:

• Coordination of movement: It fine-tunes voluntary movements, ensuring they are smooth and coordinated.
• Balance and posture: The cerebellum helps maintain balance and posture by processing information from the inner ear and the spinal cord.
• Motor learning: It plays a role in learning new motor skills and adjusting movements based on sensory feedback.

The cerebellum is crucial for tasks that require precision, such as walking, writing, or playing musical instruments.

These four brain structures (cerebrum, thalamus, pons, and cerebellum) work together to enable complex functions like sensory processing, movement, cognition, and regulation of body systems.