WHAT IS BRAIN STEM INJURY?
The brain stem is the part of the brain that connects the larger portion of the brain with the rest of the body. Many functions are tightly packed in the brain stem and consequently it is quite susceptible to injury. Among other things, the brain stem controls consciousness, breathing, heart beat, eye movements, pupil reactions, swallowing and facial movements. Furthermore, all the sensations going to the brain, as well as the signals from the brain to the muscles, must pass through the brain stem. The brain stem is often damaged in severe head injuries, but it is almost never the ONLY part of the brain which is injured.
