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Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions01:20

Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. It consists of four main parts: the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect various areas...
Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II01:11

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II

Each cerebral hemisphere can be divided into three main regions. The outermost region, the cerebral cortex, is a thin layer (2 to 4 millimeters thick) made up of gray matter, consisting of neuron cell bodies, dendrites, glial cells, and blood vessels. The middle region, or white matter, is primarily composed of myelinated nerve fibers organized into three types of large tracts: association fibers, commissures, and projection fibers. Association fibers connect different areas within the same...
Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I01:26

Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview I

The main and largest component of the human brain is the cerebrum. The cerebrum consists of two main parts: the cerebral cortex, an outer layer with wrinkles or folds known as gyri and shallow grooves called sulci, and a deeper region beneath it. The cerebrum divides into two distinct hemispheres and contains five different lobes: the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, and insula. The central sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes and two functionally important gyri — the...
Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles01:18

Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen. The...
Organization of the Brain01:30

Organization of the Brain

The brain is an integral component of the nervous system and serves as the center for processing sensory inputs, making decisions, and directing bodily actions. This complex organ is organized into three primary sections: the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, each responsible for a range of vital functions.
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...
Sutures of the Skull01:22

Sutures of the Skull

The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains
07:14

A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains

Published on: January 16, 2026

No brain expansion in Australopithecus boisei.

John Hawks1

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1393, USA. jhawks@wisc.edu

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|September 15, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Fossil endocranial volumes of Australopithecus boisei show no significant size increase over time. Statistical reevaluation using randomization methods found no evidence for evolutionary trends in this robust australopithecine species.

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Fabrication of an Expandable Brain Matrix Customizable Across Developmental Stages
11:35

Fabrication of an Expandable Brain Matrix Customizable Across Developmental Stages

Published on: February 20, 2026

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Last Updated: May 29, 2026

A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains
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A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains

Published on: January 16, 2026

Fabrication of an Expandable Brain Matrix Customizable Across Developmental Stages
11:35

Fabrication of an Expandable Brain Matrix Customizable Across Developmental Stages

Published on: February 20, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Human Evolution
  • Paleontology

Background:

  • Robust australopithecine fossils suggest potential endocranial volume increase over time.
  • East African Australopithecus boisei fossils provide the primary temporal data, with 11 estimates from 2.5 to 1.4 million years ago.
  • Previous analyses faced challenges due to estimation error and low variance in the fossil sample.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reevaluate the evidence for a temporal trend in endocranial volume in Australopithecus boisei.
  • To apply robust statistical methods to address limitations in previous analyses.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized randomization methods to test for trends in endocranial volume.
  • Employed a related test with an explicit model of variability.
  • Included and excluded the KNM-WT 17000 cranium in analyses.

Main Results:

  • Statistical tests, including randomization, found no significant evidence for a trend in Australopithecus boisei endocranial volume.
  • Results remained consistent whether the early KNM-WT 17000 specimen was included or excluded.
  • The study highlights limitations in detecting evolutionary trends with the available fossil data.

Conclusions:

  • The available fossil evidence does not support a significant trend of increasing endocranial volume in Australopithecus boisei over time.
  • Further research with improved fossil data or advanced analytical techniques may be needed to fully understand australopithecine brain evolution.