The basal ganglia is a structure of the cerebrum that contains grey matter called the putamen, caudate nucleus, and globus pallidus. There are also two midbrain structures called the subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra.

The brainstem consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. The brainstem continues inferiorly to become the spinal cord. The brainstem is responsible for basic living functions, including but not limited to: respiration, circulation (including heart rate), and digestion. As such, any injury to the brainstem would be catastrophic. Additionally ten of twelve cranial nerves pass through the brainstem, going on to provide the face and neck with motor and sensory functions. Furthermore, nerve conduction of the motor and sensory systems of the brain and body pass through the brain stem including the corticospinal tract (involved in motor activity), the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway (involved in fine touch, vibration sensation, and proprioception), and the spinothalamic tract (involved in pain, temperature, itch, and crude touch).

The bundle of fibers that connects Wenicke's area with Broca's area is called the arcuate fasiculus. Broca's area is located in the frontal lobe and Wernicke's area is located in the temporal lobe. The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The Aqueduct of Sylvius is a canal which cerebrospinal fluid flows between the third and fourth ventricles of the brain. The lateral sulcus is a prominent structure in the brain which divides the frontal lobe and parietal lobe (above) from the temporal lobe (below), while the central sulcus separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Knowing how to ride a bike is an example of procedural memory. Procedural memory is involved in learning motor skills. Working memory can be another name for immediate memory, which means lasts a few seconds to a few minutes, such as temporarily remembering a set of numbers. Declarative memory includes short-term memory and is concerned with people, events, occurrences, and facts.

The cerebrum consists of four lobes: the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital. Some sources also include the limbic lobe (responsible for emotion and memory) and the insular cortex (responsible for pain). The frontal lobe is responsible for conscious thought and executive functioning; damage to the lobe can result in mood and personality changes. The parietal lobe is important in sensory integration, in visuaospatial processing, and the manipulation of objects. The occipital lobe is responsible for sight; damage to the area can produce hallucinations and blindness. The temporal lobe is involved in the sense of smell and sound, memory, and it also plays a role in processing complex stimuli such as faces and scenes.

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinated body movements and muscle memory. The brainstem allows for breathing, circulation, heart rate, and digestion.

The hypothalamus (part of the diencephalon) is responsible for maintaining the sleep-wake cycle and regulating the "biological clock". These are set by a specific nuclei located in the hypothalamus, the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The thalamus is also part of the diencephalon but is primarily involved in relaying sensory and motor signals through the cerebral cortex. The thyroid is an endocrine gland which secretes thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, and temperature. The cerebellum coordinates muscle activity and the basal ganglia aids in coordinating movement. The epithalamus contains the pineal gland, which may play a role in the sleep-wake-cycle (circadian rhythm) via the hormone melatonin.

The brain and spinal cord are protected by special membranes called meninges. The meninges are made up of three membranes listed from superficial to deep: dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. Note that the cerebrospinal fluid circulates in the space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater, called the subarachnoid space.

The cerebrum consists of four lobes: the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital. Some sources also include the limbic lobe (responsible for emotion and memory) and the insular cortex (responsible for pain). The parietal lobe is important in sensory integration, visuaospatial processing, and the manipulation of objects. The frontal lobe is responsible for conscious thought and executive functioning; damage to the lobe can result in mood and personality changes. The occipital lobe is responsible for sight; damage to the area can produce hallucinations and blindness. The temporal lobe is involved in the sense of smell and sound, it also plays a role in processing complex stimuli such as faces and scenes and memory.

The cerebellum plays an important role in motor control. The cerebellum does not initiate movement, but it is important in coordination, precision, and accurate timing of movements. The cerebellum receives and integrates input from the sensory systems from the spinal cord and other parts of the brain to fine tune motor activity.

The parietal lobe is important in sensory integration, visuaospatial processing, and the manipulation of objects. The frontal lobe is responsible for conscious thought and executive functioning; damage to the lobe can result in mood and personality changes. The occipital lobe is responsible for sight; damage to the area can produce hallucinations and blindness. The temporal lobe is involved in the sense of smell and sound, it also plays a role in processing complex stimuli such as faces and scenes and memory.

The fourth ventricle is connected to the third ventricle via the aqueduct of Sylvius (also known as the cerebral aqueduct). The third ventricle connects with the lateral ventricles through the interventricular foramina.