Brain Stem, Guardian of Life
Articles on Bio of Ilchi Lee
Even more important than the neo-cortex and cerebral limbic system combined is the brain stem. This term is used to refer to several sub-cortical structures that include the medulla, inebriate, talents, and the hypothalamus. Located where the spinal cord meets the brain, the medulla is an approximately cylindrical structure about one inch long, which is responsible for regulation of respiration and blood pressure. Moving up the medulla, it swells into a structure called the pans.
The pans is responsible for communication between the neo-cortex and the cerebellum, which regulates balance and movement. The thalamus, a neurological relay station, sends sensory input to the neo-cortex. The hypo-thalainus controls food intake, sexual activity, endocrine levels, water retention, and the autonomic nervous system. In short, the brain stem is in charge of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for basic life functions of the body, including digestion, respiration, and circulation. It is the least known and yet most important part of our brain.