Human Model – Brain, 4 Parts, on Base

Quick Answer: This 4 part brain model is an anatomical model of the adult human brain that separates into four pieces and stands on a display base. Taking it apart exposes internal structures, typically along the midline, so students can study the brain’s interior as well as its outer surface.

Opening the Brain Along the Midline

Brain models in four parts are most often divided first into right and left halves along the midline, with each half then splitting further, but the division used here should be confirmed at enquiry. Whatever the split, the teaching value lies in what the cut surfaces reveal. On the midline, or midsagittal, face the corpus callosum appears as a broad arch of white matter linking the two hemispheres, with the thalamus below it and the hypothalamus and pituitary stalk lower still.

The same face shows the brainstem in profile, the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata, descending to meet the spinal cord, with the cerebellum tucked behind the pons. Parts of the ventricular system, the spaces that hold cerebrospinal fluid, can also be identified, including the third ventricle between the two thalami and the fourth ventricle between the brainstem and cerebellum.

The display base keeps the reassembled brain upright in its natural orientation, which helps when naming the lobes and major sulci on the outside before the model is opened. For an introductory course that only needs external features, the human brain model may be enough; the four-part version suits courses in which the deep structures are examined.

Applications

• Teaching internal brain anatomy in nursing, psychology and medical courses
• Locating the thalamus, hypothalamus and brainstem when teaching their functions
• Showing where cerebrospinal fluid circulates within the ventricles
• Practical identification tests using the separated parts

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Separate the parts of the 4 part brain model over a table, not in the air, so a piece that slips does not fall to the floor.
• Reassemble it on the base after each lesson; loose parts left on shelves are easily lost or chipped.
• Clean with a soft brush to lift dust from the sulci, then a barely damp cloth if needed.

Why Choose LabEquip

Psychology, nursing and neuroscience teachers often choose a four-part brain because the deep structures they name in lectures are otherwise hard to show. LabEquip includes it in its biology lab products, and the nervous system poster supports the wider picture. Send requirements through the LabEquip contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the corpus callosum do?

It is a thick band of nerve fibres connecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres. It allows the two halves of the brain to share information.

Where is the thalamus?

It lies deep in the brain on each side of the third ventricle, below the corpus callosum. It acts as a relay station, passing most incoming sensory information on to the cerebral cortex.

What are the ventricles of the brain?

They are connected spaces inside the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid. There are two lateral ventricles, a third ventricle in the midline and a fourth ventricle between the brainstem and cerebellum.

Which parts make up the brainstem?

The midbrain, the pons and the medulla oblongata. The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Why choose a four-part brain over a single-piece model?

A single-piece model shows only the outer surface. A model that comes apart lets students see the deep structures and ventricles, which matter in psychology, nursing and medical courses.

What does on base mean for this model?

The brain is supplied with a display base that holds it upright in its natural orientation. The base keeps it stable on a desk and makes it easy to reassemble after the parts have been studied.

Last Updated: September 2026