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brain stem

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
brain stem, lower part of the brain brain, the supervisory center of the nervous system in all vertebrates. It also serves as the site of emotions, memory, self-awareness, and thought. Anatomy and Function

..... Click the link for more information. , adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord. The upper segment of the human brain stem, the pons, contains nerve fibers that connect the two halves of the cerebellum cerebellum , portion of the brain that coordinates movements of voluntary (skeletal) muscles. It contains about half of the brain's neurons, but these particular nerve cells are so small that the cerebellum accounts for only 10% of the brain's total weight.
..... Click the link for more information. . It is vital in coordinating movements involving right and left sides of the body. Below the pons and continuous with the spinal cord is the medulla, which transmits ascending and descending nerve fibers between the spinal cord and the brain. The medulla also directly controls many involuntary muscular and glandular activities, including breathing, heart contraction, artery dilation, salivation, vomiting, and probably laughing. The nuclei of some of the nerves that originate in the brain are also located in the brain stem. Nerve fibers in the brain stem do not readily regenerate, hence injury may result in permanent loss of function. See also nervous system nervous system, network of specialized tissue that controls actions and reactions of the body and its adjustment to the environment. Virtually all members of the animal kingdom have at least a rudimentary nervous system.
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The pathologist who conducted the girl's post mortem examination said her death would have been instantaneous when she suffered an injury to her brain stem and spine.
She felt no pain; HORROR SMASH INQUEST: CRASH GIRL WAS KILLED ... by Daily Post (Liverpool, England)
Spatially, these comprise the frontal lobe, parietal lobe (at the top rear of the head), temporal lobe (above and behind the ears), and occipital lobe (at the back of the head), with the brain stem below the occipital lobe.
Medical Brain Models - Learn About the Most Vital Part of Your Body by Stephen Lamb / Reference and Education community
Heartbroken husband Douglas 57, said: "I have received confirmation that Lydia no longer has brain stem function.
WAITING FOR DEATH; Family's Bangkok vigil for scooter mugging victim by The Mirror (London, England)
 
 
 
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