your brain is the boss of your body. It runs the show and controls just about everything you do, even when you 're asleep. Not bad for something that looks like a big, wrinkly, gray sponge.
Your brain has many different parts that work together. We 're going to talk about these five parts, which are key players on the brain team:
cerebrum (say: suh-REE-brum) cerebellum (say: sair-uh-BELL-um) brain stem pituitary (say: puh-TOO-uh-ter-ee) gland hypothalamus (say: hy-po-THAL-uh-mus)
The Biggest Part: the Cerebrum
Brain CerebrumThe biggest part of the brain is the cerebrum. The cerebrum makes up 85% of the brain 's weight, and it 's easy to see why. The cerebrum is the thinking part of the brain and it controls your voluntary muscles — the ones that move when you want them to. So you can 't
…show more content…
Because of your cerebellum, you can stand upright, keep your balance, and move around. Think about a surfer riding the waves on his board. What does he need most to stay balanced? The best surfboard? The coolest wetsuit? Nope — he needs his cerebellum!
Brain Stem Keeps You Breathing — and More
Brain StemAnother brain part that 's small but mighty is the brain stem. The brain stem sits beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. It connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord, which runs down your neck and back. The brain stem is in charge of all the functions your body needs to stay alive, like breathing air, digesting food, and circulating blood.
Part of the brain stem 's job is to control your involuntary muscles — the ones that work automatically, without you even thinking about it. There are involuntary muscles in the heart and stomach, and it 's the brain stem that tells your heart to pump more blood when you 're biking or your stomach to start digesting your lunch. The brain stem also sorts through the millions of messages that the brain and the rest of the body send back and forth. Whew! It 's a big job being the brain 's secretary! Pituitary