Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy & Physiology Study Guide

©2018 Achieve Page 125 is the base of the diencephalon and comprises centers involved with emotions, autonomic function, and hormone production. A narrow stalk, called the infundibulum , connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland, a component of the endocrine system. The nervous and endocrine systems work together to maintain homeostasis through integration by the hypothalamus of 368 12.1 Brain Regions and Landmarks The biggest region of the adult brain is the cerebrum . The cerebrum of the adult brain can be separated into large, paired cerebral hemispheres. The cerebral hemispheres are enclosed by neural cortex , a superficial layer of gray matter. Elevated ridges of this cerebral cortex, called gyri, serve to increase the cerebral surface area. Depressions or grooves separate the gyri. The shallowdepressions are called sulci and deeper ones are fissures . The cerebrum is where the higher mental functions occur. These functions include conscious thoughts, sensations, intellect, memory, and complex activities. The cerebellum is partly concealed by the cerebral hemispheres, but it is the second-largest part of the brain. Like the cerebrum, the cerebellum has hemispheres that are covered by a layer of gray matter, the cerebellar cortex . The cerebellum adjusts continuous movements by comparing arriving sensations with previous sensory information to allow the performance of the same actions. The diencephalon integrates incoming information. The left and right thalamus make up the walls of the diencephalon. Each thalamus contains relay and processing centers for sensory information. The hypothalamus