What is the Brain Stem?
The brain stem is the lowest part of the brain, and is a structural continuation of the spinal cord. The brain stem is the oldest part of the brain, structurally analogous to parts of the brain found in all vertebrates, ostensibly even the very oldest vertebrates, such as the jawless fish Haikouichthys, whose fossils are dated to 530 million years ago. The brain stem includes the hindbrain and the midbrain, two of the three major regions that the neural tube differentiates into during embryogenesis. The third region differentiates into the rest of the brain. Arguably the most primitive part of the brain, but also among the most essential, the brain stem primarily regulates autonomic functions along with the parts of the Central Nervous System outside the brain. These functions include cardiovascular control (heart beat and blood pressure), pain sensitivity control, alertness, respiratory control (breathing), and, most broadly, consciousness (though this word is notoriously slippery to
The brain stem is the inner part of the brain that is connected to the spinal cord. It is responsible for regulating most of the automatic functions of the body that are essential for life. These are: • breathing, • heartbeat, • blood pressure, and • swallowing. The brain stem also relays all information to and from the brain to the rest of the body, so it plays a vital role in core functions such as consciousness, awareness, and movement.
