Brain

Brain
That portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It functions as a primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."
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Walter Russell, Lord, English physician, 1895–1966. See B. reflex.

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brain 'brān n
1) the portion of the vertebrate central nervous system enclosed in the skull and continuous with the spinal cord through the foramen magnum that is composed of neurons and supporting and nutritive structures (as glia) and that integrates sensory information from inside and outside the body in controlling autonomic function (as heartbeat and respiration), in coordinating and directing correlated motor responses, and in the process of learning see forebrain, hindbrain, midbrain
2) a nervous center in invertebrates comparable in position and function to the vertebrate brain

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n.
the enlarged and highly developed mass of nervous tissue that forms the upper end of the central nervous system. The average adult human brain weighs about 1400 g (approximately 2% of total body weight) and is continuous below with the spinal cord. It is invested by three connective tissue membranes, the meninges, and floats in cerebrospinal fluid within the rigid casing formed by the bones of the skull. The brain is divided into the hindbrain (rhombencephalon), consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons Varolii, and cerebellum; the midbrain (mesencephalon); and the forebrain (prosencephalon), subdivided into the cerebrum and the diencephalon (including the thalamus and hypothalamus). Anatomical name: encephalon.

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(brān) [A.S. braegen] that part of the central nervous system contained within the cranium, comprising the prosencephalon (forebrain: telencephalon plus diencephalon), mesencephalon (midbrain), and rhombencephalon (hindbrain: metencephalon plus myelencephalon). It is derived (developed) from the anterior part of the embryonic neural tube. Functions include muscle control and coordination, sensory reception and integration, speech production, memory storage, and the elaboration of thought and emotion. Called also encephalon [TA]. See Plates 9 and 10 and see also cerebrum.


PLATE 9 VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD


PLATE 10 HEMISECTION OF THE HEAD AND NECK, SHOWING VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BRAIN IN RELATION TO OTHER STRUCTURES


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Brain — (br[=a]n), n. [OE. brain, brein, AS. bragen, br[ae]gen; akin to LG. br[ a]gen, bregen, D. brein, and perh. to Gr. bre gma, brechmo s, the upper part of head, if [beta] = [phi]. [root]95.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Anat.) The whitish mass of soft matter… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Brain — (engl. „Gehirn“) bezeichnet: ein deutsches Biotechnologieunternehmen, siehe Brain AG ein deutsches Musiklabel, siehe Brain (Label) eine medizinische Fachzeitschrift, siehe Brain (Fachzeitschrift) eine deutsche Fernsehsendung, siehe Brain… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • brain — brain; brain·i·ness; brain·ish; brain·less; in·ter·brain; brain·i·ac; am·brain; brain·sick·ly; …   English syllables

  • Brain — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase (c)Brain. Brain País …   Wikipedia Español

  • Brain — студийный альбом Уэхары Хироми Дата выпуска 25 Мая 2004 Записан 9 11 Декабря 2003 Жанры Джаз, джаз фьюжн Длительность 61:44 …   Википедия

  • brain´i|ly — brain|y «BRAY nee», adjective, brain|i|er, brain|i|est. Informal. intelligent; clever. –brain´i|ly, adverb. –brain´i|ness, no …   Useful english dictionary

  • brain|y — «BRAY nee», adjective, brain|i|er, brain|i|est. Informal. intelligent; clever. –brain´i|ly, adverb. –brain´i|ness, no …   Useful english dictionary

  • Brain — (br[=a]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Brained} (br[=a]nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Braining}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To dash out the brains of; to kill by beating out the brains. Hence, Fig.: To destroy; to put an end to; to defeat. [1913 Webster] There thou… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brain — or brains [brān] n. [ME < OE brægen < IE base * mregh m(n)o , skull, brain > Gr bregma, forehead] 1. [sometimes pl.] the mass of nerve tissue in the cranium of vertebrate animals, an enlarged extension of the spinal cord: it is the main… …   English World dictionary

  • brain — ► NOUN 1) an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull, functioning as the coordinating centre of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity. 2) intellectual capacity. 3) (the brains) informal the main organizer or planner within a …   English terms dictionary

  • Brain —   [breɪn], Dennis, britischer Hornist, * London 17. 5. 1921, ✝ (Autounfall) Hatfield (County Hertfordshire) 1. 9. 1957; Schüler seines Vaters, des Hornisten Aubrey Brain (* 1893, ✝ 1955), war 1. Hornist beim Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, dann… …   Universal-Lexikon

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