Brain Stem Essay Example

📌Category: Health, Human Body, Medicine
📌Words: 408
📌Pages: 2
📌Published: 17 June 2021

The brain stem is considered one of the most primitive parts of the brain that is crucial to human survival. As thoroughly explained by most psychologists and anatomists throughout the centuries, it regulates the human body’s most fundamental physiological activities, essential for maintaining and sustaining life. While the brainstem is exceedingly tiny, making up only 2.6 percent of the brain’s total weight, its functions are so complex it surpasses its weight. The functions enable individuals to control specific involuntary actions of the body, such as breathing, alertness, arousal, blood pressure, digestion, heart rate, and other autonomic functions. 

However, though this part of the brain upholds a great responsibility, it works in unison with other components. Specifically, three critical parts of the brain: the midbrain, medulla oblongata, and the pons. The midbrain, also called the mesencephalon, is located between the two other developing regions of the brain, the forebrain and the hindbrain. Compared to those regions, the midbrain is relatively more minor. The midbrain serves basic motor movement movements, particular eye movements, and auditory and visual processing.  The pons (part of the metencephalon) lies between the midbrain and the medulla oblongata. It contains tracts that carry signals from the cerebrum to the medulla and the cerebellum. It also has tracts that carry sensory signals to the thalamus. The medulla oblongata is located in the lower half of the brainstem, continuous to the spinal cord. Its upper part is constant with the pons. The medulla contains cardiac, respiratory, vomiting, and vasomotor centers regulating heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Together, they make up the brainstem. 

While the brainstem is the region of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord, motor and sensory neurons travel through the brainstem, allowing for relaying signals between the brain and the spinal cord. In fact, most cranial nerves are found within the brainstem. There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves; ten of them come from the brainstem. In addition to linking the cerebrum and spinal cord, the brainstem also connects the cerebrum with the cerebellum. The nerve tracts travel through the brainstem relay signals from the cerebellum to areas of the cerebral cortex involved in motor control. This allows for the coordination of fine motor movements needed for activities. The cerebellum is essential for regulating functions such as movement coordination, balance, equilibrium, and muscle tone. It is positioned above the brainstem and beneath the occipital lobes of the cerebral cortex. 

Like most parts of the brain, injury to the brainstem caused by trauma or stroke can lead to mobility and movement coordination difficulties. Activities such as walking, writing, and eating would become difficult, and the individual may require life-long treatment.

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