| Cerebrum | Forebrain | 4 lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital); cerebral cortex | Higher cognition, memory, reasoning, voluntary movement INITIATION, sensory perception, speech | Does NOT coordinate movement (cerebellum does that) |
| Thalamus | Forebrain | Specific nuclei (LGN, MGN, VPN) | Relay ALL senses to cortex EXCEPT smell | Does NOT process smell directly |
| Hypothalamus | Forebrain | Preoptic area, supraoptic, PVN nuclei | Thermoregulation, hunger, thirst, circadian rhythms, controls pituitary; emotional behaviour | Does NOT relay sensory information |
| Midbrain | Midbrain | Superior colliculi, inferior colliculi, substantia nigra | Visual reflexes (SC), auditory reflexes (IC), dopamine production (SN) | Does NOT initiate voluntary movement |
| Cerebellum | Hindbrain | Cerebellar cortex, deep nuclei | Coordination of voluntary movements, posture, balance, motor learning | Does NOT INITIATE movement (this is the classic NEET trap) |
| Pons | Hindbrain | Pneumotaxic centre, facial nerve nuclei | Relay between cerebrum and cerebellum; modulates respiration (pneumotaxic centre) | Does NOT control heart rate (medulla does) |
| Medulla oblongata | Hindbrain | Cardiovascular centre, respiratory rhythmicity centre | Vital autonomic: heart rate, BP, breathing, vomiting, swallowing, coughing, sneezing | Does NOT coordinate voluntary movement |
| Spinal cord | CNS | Dorsal and ventral horns | Reflex arc centre; conduit between brain and body | Does NOT generate voluntary commands |