Brain Stem

The brain stem is the vital connection between your brain and spinal cord. It controls essential functions like breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, and sleep. It also manages basic reflexes such as swallowing and coughing, and allows signals to travel between your brain and body. Composed of structures like the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata, the brain stem is crucial for survival, operating automatically without conscious thought. Its proper functioning is essential for life, serving as the core communication pathway that sustains many of your body's involuntary processes.