DIAGRAM OF BRAIN: BRAINSTEM
🧩 THE BRAINSTEM
The Brainstem is the lowest part of the brain, connecting the cerebrum (the upper brain) to the spinal cord.
Though small in size, it controls many essential life functions — including breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure — that keep you alive every second.
It acts like the brain’s “autopilot system”, managing all the automatic processes your body performs without you having to think about them.
📍 LOCATION
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The brainstem sits at the base of the brain, just above the spinal cord and below the cerebrum.
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It connects the brain to the spinal cord, forming a bridge between the brain and the rest of the body.
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It is made up of three main parts:
⚙️ PARTS AND FUNCTIONS
1. Midbrain (Mesencephalon)
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The uppermost part of the brainstem.
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Controls eye movements, hearing, visual processing, and reflexes (like turning your head toward a sudden sound).
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Plays a role in maintaining alertness and motor control.
2. Pons
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The middle section of the brainstem, located below the midbrain.
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Acts as a bridge between the cerebrum and cerebellum.
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Helps regulate sleep, respiration (breathing), swallowing, facial expressions, and eye movement.
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It also assists in transmitting sensory messages to higher parts of the brain.
3. Medulla Oblongata
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The lowest part of the brainstem, connecting directly to the spinal cord.
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Controls vital autonomic functions that are necessary for life:
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Because of these critical roles, damage to the medulla can be fatal.
💡 MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAINSTEM
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Autonomic Control | Regulates breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure automatically. |
| Reflex Actions | Controls reflexes like blinking, coughing, and swallowing. |
| Motor and Sensory Pathways | Acts as a relay center, sending messages between the brain and the body. |
| Sleep and Arousal | Helps maintain alertness, wakefulness, and the sleep cycle. |
| Balance and Coordination | Works with the cerebellum to maintain posture and balance. |
⚠️ DAMAGE OR DISORDERS OF THE BRAINSTEM
Injury or disease affecting the brainstem can cause serious problems, such as:
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Difficulty breathing or irregular heartbeat
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Loss of consciousness or coma
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Trouble swallowing or speaking
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Paralysis or loss of sensation
Because the brainstem controls basic life functions, any damage can be life-threatening.
❤️ IN SUMMARY
The Brainstem is the life-support center of the human body.
It connects the brain and spinal cord, relays vital information, and controls automatic functions like breathing and heartbeat.
Without the brainstem, survival would not be possible.
Brainstem - The lower extension of the brain where it connects to the spinal cord. Neurological functions located in the brainstem include those necessary for survival (breathing, digestion, heart rate, blood pressure) and for arousal (being awake and alert).
Most of the cranial nerves come from the brainstem. The brainstem is the pathway for all fiber tracts passing up and down from peripheral nerves and spinal cord to the highest parts of the brain.
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