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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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B
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Brainstem
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-03
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Central core of the brain, where the top of
the spinal cord merges with the undersurface
of the brain. The oldest part of the brain in
evolutionary terms, the brainstem is the
body's life-support centre, containing
regulatory mechanisms for vital functions
such as breathing, heart rate, and blood
pressure. It is also involved in controlling
the level of consciousness by acting as a
relay station for nerve
connections to and from the higher centres of
the brain. In many countries, death of the
brainstem is now formally recognized as death
of the person as a whole. Such cases are the
principal donors of organs for
transplantation. So-called `beating-heart
donors' can be maintained for a limited
period by life-support equipment.