Question

Name the parts of Rhombencephalon and mention their functions.

Answer 1

Hint: The human brain along with the spinal cord makes up the Central Nervous System or CNS. The CNS is responsible for a whole lot of bodily function. The brain has three parts – the fore brain, midbrain and hindbrain. The hindbrain is also known as Rhombencephalon.

Complete answer:
Rhombencephalon or the hindbrain is located in the lower part at the back of the brain. It is further divided into Metencephalon and Myelencephalon. The embryonic neural tube gives rise to the hind brain during development.
> Metencephalon further comprises the cerebellum and pons.
> The Cerebellum has two hemispheres and contains the Grey matter and White matter. Anatomically, the Cerebellum can be divided into three lobes – the anterior, posterior and the flocculonodular. The cerebellum exhibits a convoluted surface to accommodate more neurons and contains numerous Purkinje fibres and granular cells.
> The function of the cerebellum involves coordination of muscular activity and visually guided movements. It helps us to maintain our body balance and posture, swim, cycle and store unconscious memories.
> Pons is located below the midbrain. It comprises tracts that interconnect different parts of the brain.
> The main function of pons is to form a connection between the forebrain and the cerebellum. It also forms a part of a network of cells that controls alertness and sleep.
> The Myelencephalon comprises the Medulla oblongata or simply the Medulla. It is the posterior most part of the brain and contains a cavity known as the Fourth Ventricle. The Medulla continues into the spinal cord. The medulla has a thick wall and its axons form a nerve tract that connects the spinal cord to the other parts of the brain.
> The function of medulla oblongata is to support or regulate the autonomic functions of the body like respiration and heartbeat. It also controls blood pressure and gastric secretions. The Medulla is the seat for reflex actions and regulates vomiting, coughing and sneezing.

Note: The brain and the spinal cord form the Central Nervous System. The major functions of the CNS involve controlling emotions like hunger, thirst, fear, pleasure, etc. It is also important in the development of speech and language. The forebrain or the Prosencephalon functions to control voluntary movement, cognitive and cognitive activities. The midbrain or the Mesencephalon helps to control movement, vision and hearing. The rhombencephalon or the hindbrain is derived from the neural tube. It can be divided into Cerebellum, Pons and Medulla Oblongata. It is known to maintain body equilibrium and body posture.