Cerebral hemisphere

Cerebral Hemisphere

The Cerebral Hemisphere (pronunciation: /sɪˈriːbrəl ˈhɛmɪsfɪər/) is one of the two regions of the brain that are delineated by the body's median plane, the other being its mirror image counterpart.

Etymology

The term "Cerebral" is derived from the Latin word "cerebrum" which means brain, and "Hemisphere" comes from the Greek words "hemi" meaning half, and "sphaira" meaning sphere.

Definition

The Cerebral Hemisphere refers to one half of the spherical brain. In higher vertebrates and humans, it is divided into two halves, known as the left and right hemispheres, by a deep groove, the longitudinal fissure. Each hemisphere is conventionally divided into four lobes – the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe.

Function

The Cerebral Hemispheres are responsible for the control of the opposite sides of the body and are the seat of higher cognitive functions such as thinking, learning, memory, and speech. The left hemisphere is typically dominant in language and speech, while the right hemisphere is dominant in spatial abilities, face recognition, visual imagery, and music.

Related Terms

Cerebrum: The largest part of the brain, composed of the left and right cerebral hemispheres.
Frontal Lobe: The part of each cerebral hemisphere involved in voluntary muscle movements, moods, and the ability to think.
Parietal Lobe: The part of each cerebral hemisphere involved in sensory perception and integration, including the management of taste, hearing, sight, touch, and smell.
Temporal Lobe: The part of each cerebral hemisphere involved in processing sensory input and assigning it emotional meaning.
Occipital Lobe: The part of each cerebral hemisphere involved in visual processing.