Brain Lobes
Neuro · AnatomyFour lobes plus the cerebellum and brainstem — each with a job you can test at the bedside.
The structures
- Frontal lobe — Personality, judgment, motor strip, speech production (Broca's)
- Parietal lobe — Sensation and spatial awareness
- Temporal lobe — Hearing, memory, speech comprehension (Wernicke's)
- Occipital lobe — Vision
- Cerebellum — Balance and coordination
- Brainstem — Breathing, heart rate, consciousness — the non-negotiables
Why it matters on shift
- New slurred speech or one-sided weakness = stroke workup NOW — time is brain
- Expressive aphasia (can't produce words) points frontal; receptive (words don't make sense) points temporal
- Cushing's triad — widening pulse pressure, bradycardia, irregular respirations — means the brainstem is being squeezed. Call.
Source: Anatomical structures per OpenStax Anatomy & Physiology, 2nd ed. (openstax.org, CC BY 4.0). Educational reference — verify clinical application against your facility's policy.Reference only — verify against your facility's policy.
