Glossary
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Definition
Brain
Principal part of the central nervous system. It is the largest centre of analysis for all the information received or produced by the body.
The brain, the main part of the central nervous system, is divided into two cerebral hemispheres and various structures that link them together. The brain, the cerebellum, and the brain stem make up the encephalon, the chief director of the human body. It centralizes all the information that circulates through the body and permits activities such as hearing, reading, and writing.
More information
As a vital organ of the human body, the brain benefits from a number of biological devices that protect it and maintain its smooth functioning. Always active, even when sleeping, it is nourished by a large network of blood vessels, and, at rest, consumes 20% of the oxygen taken in by the body. Sheltered within the skull, it baths in a liquid that absorbs shocks, called the cerebrospinal fluid. It is also protected by strong membranes, the meninges, which provide effective barriers against microorganisms. The brain, or rather the encephalon, is therefore a highly advanced system connected to the rest of the body by nerves. It can process an innumerable amount of information in the blink of an eye.
