IntermediatePart of the Nervous

Brain

Encephalon

The body’s command center, integrating sensation, memory, emotion, and precise movement.

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Brain (Encephalon)
BrainEncephalon

In short

Billions of neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signals.

It has no pain receptors of its own — a headache is felt in the tissues around it.

Key facts

Size
Roughly two clenched fists
Weight
1.3–1.4 kg
Location
Protected within the skull
Blood supply
Internal carotid and vertebral arteries
Function
Processes and coordinates signals
Daily
Uses about 20% of the body’s energy
Tissue type
Cerebral cortex
Latin term
Encephalon

Structures to know

7 labelled structures

Numbers at rest

Typical adult values — not a diagnostic reference.

Mass1,350 g
Usual range 1250–1450 g
Neurons86 ×10⁹
Share of body energy20 %
Usual range 18–22 %
Blood flow750 mL/min
Usual range 700–800 mL/min

Clinical relevance

Billions of neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signals.

  • Migraine
  • Stroke
  • Neurodegenerative disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Meningitis
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Brain aneurysm

Study material only — this is not medical advice or a diagnostic tool.

Reviewed 2026-08-18 · Structure names follow Terminologia Anatomica (TA2).