Summary
The brainstem is important for many vital functions, such as breathing and heartbeat. The brainstem consists of the medulla, pons and midbrain.

Function
The brain stem is important for vital functions, such as body temperature, heartbeat, breathing and blood pressure. It is also important for maintaining a sleep rhythm, crying, urinating, chewing and changing pupil size.

The brainstem consists of three parts; the medulla, the pons and the midbrain. The medulla is the part of the brainstem that is connected to the spinal cord. From here, signals are sent from the brain to the body, for example to the muscles to make a certain movement. In this way, the medulla is also involved in heartbeat, blood pressure, digestion and body temperature. The pons is the connection between the cerebellum and the cerebrum. The front part of the medulla is important for sending sensory information to the cerebellum. This mainly involves information about movement. The rear part of the pons helps with breathing, taste and sleep. The midbrain is involved in sensory and motor functions, visual and auditory reflexes, the pupillary reflex and hearing. The midbrain consists of the tectum and tegmentum. The tectum contains the superior and inferior colliculi, which control eye movements.

Location
The brainstem is the connection between the cerebrum, cerebellum and spinal cord. The brainstem enters the skull through the opening at the base of the skull.

Fact
The brainstem is the part of the brain that was first fully developed. This means that the first vertebrates already had a developed brain stem. The neurons that are found here are very small and have few long branches.

Patients
Damage to the medulla of the brain stem can lead to paralysis. Body parts can also become insensitive to touch.

Author: Myrthe Princen (translated by Pauline van Gils)

Image: Marcel Loeffen