What is the Difference Between Cerebrum and Cerebral Cortex?

The main difference between the cerebrum and the cerebral cortex is that the cerebrum is the largest part of the brain, while the cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the cerebrum. Here are some key differences between the two:

• Structure: The cerebrum is made up of both gray and white matter, comprising cell bodies, nerve fibers, and deep nuclei such as the basal ganglia and the thalamus. The cerebral cortex, on the other hand, is composed of gray matter that covers the internal white matter.
• Function: The cerebrum is responsible for controlling voluntary muscular movements of the body. The cerebral cortex, also known as the neocortex, is involved in high-level functions such as reasoning, emotion, thought, memory, learning, decision-making, and consciousness.
• Lobes: The cerebral cortex is composed of four lobes: the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe. Each of these lobes is responsible for processing different types of information.
• Hemispheres: The cerebrum is composed of two cerebral hemispheres, the right and left hemispheres, which are connected by the corpus callosum, facilitating communication between them.

Comparative Table: Cerebrum vs Cerebral Cortex

The cerebrum and cerebral cortex are both components of the forebrain in the human brain, but they have distinct structures and functions. Here is a table summarizing the differences between them:

In summary, the cerebrum is the larger structure, responsible for controlling voluntary muscular movements, while the cerebral cortex is a part of the cerebrum that handles higher-level cognitive functions.