brain - BrainInfo

brain (BRN)

The term brain (BRN) refers to one of two parts of the central nervous system (CNS) as defined by dissection in vertebrates ( Swanson-2015 ).. It is the part of the CNS located in the cranial cavity (CCV); the other is the spinal cord (SPC) ( Carpenter-1983 ). The vertebrate BRN consists of three parts: forebrain (FBR), midbrain (MBR) and hindbrain (HBR). Some biologists also use 'brain' in reference to the central ganglion of the nervous system (NS) of invertebrate species ( Wikipedia ). Neuroscientists have created a number of comprehensive hierarchical Model of BRN topology and internal structure in sufficient detail to be used for quantitative analyses of BRN structure and function ( Bowden-1997 ). Most published since the 1970s are stereotaxic atlases that meet criteria for use in quantitative neuroanatomy, namely, the entire brain is included and all structures are defined by boundaries such that every point in the BRN appears in one and only one primary structure ( Bowden-1997 ). Three basic kinds of hierarchical Model are functional, structural and developmental. Functional Model are most useful for correlating brain structure with mental and behavioral functions. The most comprehensive is a neurobehavioral state Model: the Functional CNS Model - Rat ( Swanson-2004 ). In structural Model, primary structures are grouped by proximity, a format that is most useful in targeting structures for implanting electrodes, chemtrodes and other devices, or for surgical intervention. See, for example, Structural CNS Model - Macaque based on the primate brain hierarchy of Bowden-1995 and Martin-2000 and updated in this version of NeuroNames. A comprehensive Developmental Model, in which structures are grouped by the location of their precursor structures (prosomeres) in the embryo together with corresponding gene expression is found in Watson-2017. Updated 29 Oct 2025. .

Also known as: brain, suprasegmental structures, suprasegmental levels of nervous system, vertebrate brain, human brain

NeuroNames ID: 21

All Names & Sources

1 of 17

Showing 17 synonym(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 17 synonym(s)

Name:

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Name:

cerveau

Language:

French

Organism:

human

Source:

Duvernoy-1992

Citation:

Springer-Verlag, Paris, 1992

Source Title:

Le cerveau humain: Surface, coupes seriees tridimensionnelles et IRM

Name:

brain

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

suprasegmental structures

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

suprasegmental levels of nervous system

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

頭腦

Language:

Chinese

Organism:

human

Source:

Kumsung-2002

Citation:

Yahoo Korea Corp.

Source Title:

English-Korean Dictionary

Name:

encéfalo

Language:

Spanish

Organism:

human

Source:

Carpenter-1994

Citation:

edicion 4, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore; traducción de Editorial Medica Panamericana, Buenos Aires, efectuada por el Dr. Alejandro Kaufman

Source Title:

Neuroanatomía Fundamentos

Name:

두뇌

Language:

Korean

Organism:

human

Source:

Kumsung-2002

Citation:

Yahoo Korea Corp.

Source Title:

English-Korean Dictionary

Name:

головной мозг

Language:

Russian

Organism:

human

Source:

Savel'ev-1996

Citation:

AREA XVII, Moscow, 1996.

Source Title:

Stereoskopicheskii Atlas Mozga Cheloveka

Name:

Hirn

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schultze-1993

Citation:

Georg Theme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1993

Source Title:

Anatomisches Wörterbuch

Name:

encefalo

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Source:

Schlag-1987

Citation:

J Neurophysiol 1987 Jan;57(1):179-200

Source Title:

Evidence for a supplementary eye field

Name:

otak

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

Gehirn

Language:

German

Organism:

human

Source:

Schiebler-1999

Citation:

Eighth Edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1999.

Source Title:

Anatomie

Name:

ensefalon

Language:

Indonesian

Organism:

human

Source:

Noback-1982

Citation:

Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kedokteran EGC, 1982

Source Title:

Anatomi Susunan Saraf Manusia, Prinsip-Prinsip Dasar Neurobiologi

Name:

vertebrate brain

Language:

English

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

Swanson-2014

Citation:

Source Title:

Neuroanatomical Terminology: A Lexicon of Classical Origins and Historical Foundations

Name:

human brain

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Name:

BRN

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Illustrations

Showing 12 illustration(s)

surface view of
fetal brain in
human

surface view of
all aspects in
human

drawing of
medial aspect in
human

surface view of
all aspects in
chimpanzee

labeled line drawings of
sagittal section in
Macaca fascicularis

multiple views of
3D reconstruction in
Macaca mulatta

surface view of
all aspects in
Macaca mulatta

surface view of
all aspects in
dog

surface view of
all aspects in
cat

surface view of
all aspects in
rabbit

surface view of
all aspects in
rat

drawing of
lateral aspect in
animal

Species With The Structure

Equivalent By	Human	Macaque	Rat	Mouse
Topology	Has The Structure	Relevant Data Not Located	Has The Structure	Has The Structure

1 of 6

Showing 6 record(s) - Use arrows to navigate

Showing 6 record(s)

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

brain

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

human brain

Source:

NeuroNames

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

suprasegmental levels of nervous system

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Homo sapiens (human)

Their Name:

suprasegmental structures

Source:

Carpenter-1983

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

brain

Source:

Swanson-2015

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Mus (mouse)

Their Name:

brain

Source:

Swanson-2015

Models Where It Appears

Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

brain

Classical Vertebrate Central Nervous System

The Classical Vertebrate Central Nervous System is a hierarchical model of gray matter structures that are common to the brain and spinal cord of all vertebrates. As in other classical models, structures are grouped by proximity as observed on dissection, and the upper levels correspond roughly to their organization in the embryo. The hierarchical organization is based on the Basic Partts List for Adult Nervous System in All Animals ( Swanson-2104 ), the nomenclature on NeuroNames ( Bowden-2012 ).

brain (vertebrate brain)

spinal cord