The Anatomy of the Human Brain Jason Chan

My Inspiration for this Project My idea for this project was mostly self-inspired. I have always had an interest in the topic of the human brain and its anatomy. This project has allowed me to research and learn more about this topic. This project has also made me more passionate about pursuing a profession that has to do with the human brain.

Basic Facts of the Human Brain Some basics of the human brain are: • The brain is the third largest organ and the second largest internal organ in the human body- the skin being the largest and the liver being the second largest. • The brains average weight in an average human adult is 1, 263 grams or approximately 49. 7 ounces. • While the brain only accounts for two percent of an average adults’ body weight the brain uses approximately twenty percent of the oxygen in our blood and twenty-five percent of the glucose or sugars that circulate through our blood. • It is estimated that humans can only use ten percent of their brain at a single time. • The two sides of your brain- left and right- serve different purposes. The left brain is responsible for speech, language, mathematical computations, analyzing and is detail oriented. On the other hand, the right side of the brain is responsible for spatial awareness, facial recognition, musical awareness, art, and is creativity-oriented • The human brain is made up of four separate lobes that each allow humans to perform both mental and physical activities. These lobes include the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

The Separate Sections of the Human Brain Stated previously, there are multiple sections of the human brain. Each section serves a different purpose to help perform both mental and physical actions. The outermost of brain cells is the cortex is called the cortex- which is responsible for thought and voluntary movement. The brain stem- which lies between the spinal cord and the rest of the brain, controls basic functions such as breathing and sleep. In the center of the brain, the basal ganglia can coordinate messages between multiple other parts of the brain- allowing all sections of the human brain the be able to work together. The cerebellum- which is located at the base of the brain, is responsible for a person coordination and balance. The brain can also be split into four different lobes. The frontal lobes- the front most lobe of the brain, is typically the largest lobe and controls problem solving, judgement and motor function. The parietal lobe- located directly behind the frontal lobes, manage sensation, handwriting and body position The temporal lobes, which are located under both the frontal and parietal lobes, are involved in memorization and hearing. Lastly, located in the back of the brain, the occipital lobe contains the body’s visual processing system.

Development of the Brain Overtime, your brain develops- undergoing neural development. Neural development refers to the processes that generate, shape, and re-shape the nervous system. The human body undergoes neural development from the time of the earliest stages of embryogenesis, to the final years of a person’s life. The brain multiplies by four times its volume at a very young age. In fact, a child’s brain has ninety percent of the volume of an adult’s brain by the age of six. However, despite the brain’s massive growth in young adolescence, the human brain does not finish fully developing until a person is in their late-forties. Each time a person creates a memory, new brain connections are also created because of this- which is one form of neural development. Also, every time a person creates a memory or learns something, their brain structure changes- another form of neural development. The brain develops so rapidly in fact, that by the age of two years old, the child’s brain will have approximately 100 trillion cell connections- the most it will ever contain in its entire lifespan.

Diseases and Possible Conditions of the Brain There are many different diseases and harmful that the human brain is susceptible to. Many of these diseases can be life threatening and very often fatal. They lead to the permanent destruction of brain cells and serious bodily harm. Alzheimer's disease- Nerves in certain areas of the brain start to degenerate. This causes progressive dementia. In fact, Alzheimer's disease it the leading cause for dementia in the United States. Stroke- Blood flow and oxygen supply are immediately and suddenly are cut off from a part of the brain- casing the brain cells in that area to die. A blood clot or bleeding in the brain are the most common causes of a stroke. Atherosclerosis- the fatty build up in the arteries can also cause a stroke. Parkinson's Disease- Nerves in a central area of the brain degenerate slowly, causing problems with movement and coordination. A tremor of the hands is a common early sign. There are many other harmful conditions and diseases that the brain can acquire; however these diseases are usually the most common in the human brain.

Conclusion In conclusion, I have learned a lot about the brain’s anatomy from when I started this courage project. This included the basic facts, the separate sections, development and diseases of the human brain. I have enjoyed not only researching about the project, but also creating this presentation and talking about what I have learned. As I said again, this project has also made me even more exited and passionate about pursuing a profession that studies and works on the brain; and inspired me to study even more about the topic in the future.

Works Cited