Brain stem facts for kids

The midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata are labelled on this section of the human brain.

The brainstem is a very important part of your brain. It's located at the back, connecting your main brain to your spinal cord. Even though it's small, it controls many vital functions that keep you alive.

The brainstem has two main parts: the hindbrain and the midbrain. The hindbrain includes the pons and the medulla oblongata.

Think of the brainstem as a busy highway. All the messages for movement and senses travel through it. These messages go from your brain to the rest of your body, and from your body back to your brain. It also sends special nerves, called cranial nerves, to your face and neck.

The brainstem also controls things you don't even think about. These are things like your breathing, your heart beating, and even sweating. It handles these unconscious actions that are absolutely necessary for life.

The medulla oblongata is part of the hindbrain. It's like an extension of your spinal cord. It connects the other big parts of your brain, like the cerebrum and cerebellum, to your spinal cord. Its special cells, called neurons, are in charge of things like your blood pressure and how you breathe.

What Does the Brainstem Do?

The brainstem has several key jobs that are super important for your body to work.

Connecting Your Body and Brain

All the information that travels between your body and the main parts of your brain (the cerebellum and cerebrum) must pass through the brainstem. It's like a central station for all these messages.

Controlling Face and Neck Movements

Many important cranial nerves come out of the brainstem. These nerves help you move your face, allowing you to speak, swallow, and make different expressions.

Keeping You Alive and Aware

The brainstem helps control many essential body systems. It plays a big role in your heart and blood system and your breathing. It also helps control how you feel pain, and keeps you alert, aware, and conscious. Because it does so much, any damage to the brainstem can be very serious and even life-threatening.

Images for kids

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  Diagram showing the position of the colliculi. Superior shown in green and inferior in orange.

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  View of midbrain showing covering tectum and tegmental floor

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  3D visualization of the brainstem in an average human brain

See also

In Spanish: Tronco del encéfalo para niños