brainstem
Spinal cord junction
The brainstem is the stalk-like structure at the base of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord.
It controls fundamental involuntary functions—breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, sleep cycles, and consciousness.
Damage to the brainstem is often fatal or catastrophic.
The tumor was pressing on his brainstem.
Innermost organ tissue
- ponsBrainstem relay station
- midbrainMiddle brain division
- hindbrainRear brain division
- neuroanatomyStudy of nervous system structure
Pulmonary gas exchange
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- arousalStirring to heightened state
sleep-wake · swallowing · coughing · sneezing · vomiting · eye-movement · balance · digestion
Sudden brain blood blockage
- comaUnwakeable unconsciousness
- lesionArea of pathological change
- herniationOrgan protruding abnormally
- gliomaNeoplasm of neural support cells
hemorrhage · infarction · apnea · dysphagia · vertigo · nystagmus · decerebrate · decorticate
Conveying toward central point
- efferentConveying outward from center
- ascendingMoving upward
- descendingMoving downward
- synapseNerve signal crossing point
medulla
Innermost organ tissue
breathing
Pulmonary gas exchange
- heartbeatRhythmic cardiac contraction
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
arousal · sleep-wake · swallowing · coughing · sneezing · vomiting · eye-movement · balance · digestion · thermoregulation
stroke
Sudden brain blood blockage
- comaUnwakeable unconsciousness
- lesionArea of pathological change
- herniationOrgan protruding abnormally
glioma · hemorrhage · infarction · apnea · dysphagia · vertigo · nystagmus · decerebrate · decorticate
afferent
Conveying toward central point
- efferentConveying outward from center
- ascendingMoving upward
- descendingMoving downward
- brain regionsfrontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, hippocampus
- brainstemmedulla, medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain, fourth ventricle
- anatomyheart, bones, liver, stomach, kidney
- braincortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus, frontal lobe
- breathingbreathing, inhalation, breath, exhalation, breathe
- body part wordsAdam's apple, anklebone, armpit, backbone, belly button
brainstemcerebral cortex
Brain's outer neural sheet
cortex · neocortex · prefrontal cortex · frontal lobe · cerebrum