Rhombencephalon facts for kids
| Brain: Rhombencephalon | ||
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Quick facts for kids
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| Diagram depicting the main subdivisions of the embryonic vertebrate brain. These regions will later differentiate into forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain structures. | ||
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| Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view. | ||
| Gray's | subject #187 767 | |
| NeuroNames | hier-531 | |
| MeSH | Rhombencephalon | |
The rhombencephalon, also known as the hindbrain, is a very important part of your brain. It's found at the back of your head, connecting your brain to your spinal cord. Think of it as the control center for many basic things your body does without you even thinking about them! It helps keep you alive and moving.
Contents
What is the Hindbrain?
The hindbrain is a major part of the central nervous system in animals with backbones, like humans. It's one of the three main parts that your brain develops from when you are just a tiny embryo. The other two parts are the forebrain and the midbrain.
Parts of the Hindbrain
The hindbrain is made up of several key parts that work together:
- The Pons (pronounced "ponz") is like a bridge that connects different parts of the brain. It helps control your breathing and sleep cycles.
- The Medulla oblongata (pronounced "meh-DOO-luh ob-long-GAH-tuh") is at the very bottom of your brainstem. It handles super important jobs like keeping your heart beating and making sure you breathe.
- The Cerebellum (pronounced "seh-ruh-BELL-um") is a large part of the hindbrain that looks a bit like a smaller brain. It's crucial for balance, coordination, and learning new movements, like riding a bike or playing sports.
What Does the Hindbrain Do?
The hindbrain is responsible for many vital functions that you don't even have to think about. These are called "involuntary" actions.
- Breathing: The medulla makes sure you keep breathing, even when you're asleep.
- Heart Rate: It controls how fast your heart beats to pump blood around your body.
- Blood Pressure: The hindbrain helps keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.
- Balance and Movement: The cerebellum helps you stand upright, walk, and do coordinated movements smoothly.
- Sleep: The pons plays a role in regulating your sleep and waking up.
- Digestion: It also helps control some parts of your digestive system.
Without your hindbrain, your body wouldn't be able to perform these basic, life-sustaining tasks. It's a truly amazing and essential part of your brain!
Images for kids
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Chick embryo of thirty-three hours’ incubation, viewed from the dorsal aspect. X 30.
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Embryo between eighteen and twenty-one days.
See also
In Spanish: Rombencéfalo para niños
