Gland which is at the tip of the brain

It consists of the cerebrum — the area with all the folds and grooves typically seen in pictures of the brain — as well as some other structures under it. The cerebrum contains the information that essentially makes us who we are: our intelligence, memory, personality, emotion, speech, and ability to feel and move.

Specific areas of the cerebrum are in charge of processing these different types of information. These are called lobes, and there are four of them: the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes.

The cerebrum has right and left halves, called hemispheres. They're connected in the middle by a band of nerve fibers the corpus callosum that lets them communicate. These halves may look like mirror images of each other, but many scientists believe they have different functions:. So when you're balancing your checkbook, you're using the left side. When you're listening to music, you're using the right side.

It's believed that some people are more "right-brained" or "left-brained" while others are more "whole-brained," meaning they use both halves of their brain to the same degree. The outer layer of the cerebrum is called the cortex also known as "gray matter".

Information collected by the five senses comes into the brain to the cortex. This information is then directed to other parts of the nervous system for further processing. For example, when you touch the hot stove, not only does a message go out to move your hand but one also goes to another part of the brain to help you remember not to do that again. In the inner part of the forebrain sits the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland :.

The midbrain, underneath the middle of the forebrain, acts as a master coordinator for all the messages going in and out of the brain to the spinal cord. The hindbrain sits underneath the back end of the cerebrum. It consists of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla. The cerebellum — also called the "little brain" because it looks like a small version of the cerebrum — is responsible for balance, movement, and coordination.

The pons and the medulla, along with the midbrain, are often called the brainstem. The brainstem takes in, sends out, and coordinates the brain's messages. It also controls many of the body's automatic functions, like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, swallowing, digestion, and blinking.

The basic workings of the nervous system depend a lot on tiny cells called neurons. The brain has billions of them, and they have many specialized jobs. For example, sensory neurons send information from the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin to the brain. Motor neurons carry messages away from the brain to the rest of the body. All neurons, however, relay information to each other through a complex electrochemical process, making connections that affect the way we think, learn, move, and behave.

Intelligence, learning, and memory. As we grow and learn, messages travel from one neuron to another over and over, creating connections, or pathways, in the brain. It's why driving takes so much concentration when someone first learns it, but later is second nature: The pathway became established.

In young children, the brain is highly adaptable. In fact, when one part of a young child's brain is injured, another part often can learn to take over some of the lost function.

But as we age, the brain has to work harder to make new neural pathways, making it harder to master new tasks or change set behavior patterns.

They can also press against other areas of your brain, leading to vision problems or headaches. This condition causes your pituitary gland to produce very little or none of one or more of its hormones.

This can affect things like growth or reproductive system function. In this condition, your pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone. This can lead to excessive growth, especially of your hands and feet. Diabetes insipidus.

This can be caused by a problem with the release of vasopressin. As a result, people with this condition pass large amounts of heavily diluted urine. They may also feel like they need to drink a lot of water or other fluids. The pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone in people with this condition.

This can lead to easy bruising, high blood pressure, weakness, and weight gain. In this condition, your blood contains an unusually high amount of prolactin. This can lead to infertility and a decreased sex drive. Traumatic brain injury. This involves a sudden blow to your brain. Depending on the injury, it can sometimes damage your pituitary gland and cause problems with memory, communication, or behavior.

Symptoms of a pituitary gland condition. Tips for pituitary gland health. Eat a balanced, healthy diet A balanced diet is good for your health but it can also affect your hormones. General tips for healthy eating include: eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which are great sources of fiber, vitamins, and minerals choosing good sources of fats, such as those that contain omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats opting for whole grains over refined grains reducing sodium intake avoiding refined sugars drinking at least four to six cups of water a day Reduce stress Chronic stress can lead to an increase in cortisol release.

Too much cortisol can sometimes lead to: insomnia weight gain anxiety depression Try setting aside some time to get at least 30 minutes per day of exercise or work on a relaxing hobby.

Medically reviewed by Suzanne Falck, M. Read this next. Pineal gland Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Suprarenal gland adrenal gland Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Jejunum Overview. What is the Vagus Nerve? Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M. Fimbriae Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Bladder Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network.

Circulatory Medically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network. Brain Overview. Each bump on the surface of the brain is known as a gyrus, while each groove is known as a sulcus.

The cerebral cortex can be divided into four sections, which are known as lobes. The frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe have been associated with different functions ranging from reasoning to auditory perception. This lobe is located at the front of the brain and is associated with reasoning, motor skills, higher level cognition, and expressive language.

At the back of the frontal lobe, near the central sulcus, lies the motor cortex. The motor cortex receives information from various lobes of the brain and uses this information to carry out body movements.

Damage to the frontal lobe can lead to changes in sexual habits, socialization, and attention as well as increased risk-taking. The parietal lobe is located in the middle section of the brain and is associated with processing tactile sensory information such as pressure, touch, and pain. A portion of the brain known as the somatosensory cortex is located in this lobe and is essential to the processing of the body's senses.

The temporal lobe is located on the bottom section of the brain. This lobe is also the location of the primary auditory cortex, which is important for interpreting sounds and the language we hear.

The hippocampus is also located in the temporal lobe, which is why this portion of the brain is also heavily associated with the formation of memories. Damage to the temporal lobe can lead to problems with memory, speech perception, and language skills. The occipital lobe is located at the back portion of the brain and is associated with interpreting visual stimuli and information.

The primary visual cortex, which receives and interprets information from the retinas of the eyes, is located in the occipital lobe. Damage to this lobe can cause visual problems such as difficulty recognizing objects, an inability to identify colors, and trouble recognizing words. The brainstem is an area located at the base of the brain that contains structures vital for involuntary functions such as the heartbeat and breathing.

The brain stem is comprised of the midbrain, pons, and medulla. The midbrain is often considered the smallest region of the brain. It acts as a sort of relay station for auditory and visual information.

The midbrain controls many important functions such as the visual and auditory systems as well as eye movement. Portions of the midbrain called the red nucleus and the substantia nigra are involved in the control of body movement. The darkly pigmented substantia nigra contains a large number of dopamine-producing neurons.

The medulla is located directly above the spinal cord in the lower part of the brain stem and controls many vital autonomic functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. The pons connects the cerebral cortex to the medulla and to the cerebellum and serves a number of important functions. It plays a role in several autonomic processes, such as stimulating breathing and controlling sleep cycles.

The cerebellum is comprised of small lobes and serves a number of important functions. Although there is no totally agreed-upon list of the structures that make up the limbic system, four of the main regions include:. The hypothalamus is a grouping of nuclei that lie along the base of the brain near the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus connects with many other regions of the brain and is responsible for controlling hunger, thirst, emotions , body temperature regulation, and circadian rhythms.

The hypothalamus also controls the pituitary gland by secreting hormones. This gives the hypothalamus a great deal of control over many body functions. The amygdala is a cluster of nuclei located close to the base of the brain. It is primarily involved in functions including memory, emotion, and the body's fight-or-flight response.

The structure processes external stimuli and then relays that information to the hippocampus, which can then prompt a response to deal with outside threats.

Located above the brainstem, the thalamus processes and transmits movement and sensory information. It is essentially a relay station, taking in sensory information and then passing it on to the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex also sends information to the thalamus, which then sends this information to other systems. The hippocampus is a structure located in the temporal lobe.

It is important in memory and learning and is sometimes considered to be part of the limbic system because it plays an important part in the control of emotional responses. It plays a role in the body's fight-or-flight response and in the recall and regulation of emotional memories. The brain can also be affected by a number of conditions and by damage.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there are more than types of neurological diseases. Some conditions that can affect the brain and its function include:. By studying the brain and learning more about its anatomy and function, researchers are able to develop new treatments and preventative strategies for conditions that affect the brain. You can't change your genetics or some other risk factors.

But it's important to take steps to help protect the health of your brain. Research suggests that regular physical activity is essential for brain health. For example, that exercise can help delay brain aging as well as degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. It is also associated with improvements in cognitive abilities and memory. Similarly, a nutritious, balanced diet that includes omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants is important for brain function as well as overall health.