Brain stem

1311 Brain Stem.jpg
By OpenStax - https://cnx.org/contents/FPtK1zmh@8.25:fEI3C8Ot@10/Preface, CC BY 4.0, Link

  • Deep down in bottom of the brain
  • Set of relays between spinal cord and cerebellum.
  • Different centers that connect information coming up from the spinal cord and send it through into the cerebellum.
  • Most "primitive" part of mammalian brain, but also most essential to life.
    • primitive
      • means it's shared with animal's that branched off from us very far back in mammalian evolution.
    • essential to life
      • We can get by with most of our cortex gone.
        • We may not
          • have fun,
          • konw what's going on
        • But we will stay alive
      • But we can't get by without our brain stem.
  • Centers regulating breathing, consciousness, body temperature.

Cerebellum

  • Involved in motor coordination.
  • Role in congition is unclear.
  • We can get by without cerebellum, but it's not recommended.

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