Brain Stem

Question 1

The pons

Answer 1

Direct link from brain to spinal cord. The pons are a large ball like bundle inferior to the Thalamus portion of the brain.
The pons helps relay signals to the cerebellum that deal with critical elements like sleep, swallowing, bladder control, taste, eye movement, and facial expressions and sensation.

Question 2

The medulla

Answer 2

The medulla a smaller bulge located inferior to the Pons
It controls the life-support functions including breathing, blood pressure and heart rate.
The medulla works automatically without our conscious awareness

Question 3

The reticular formation

Answer 3

Wakefulness and alertness. The reticular formation is a pencil shaped nerve network that is in control of our wakefulness and alertness. If someone damaged this area, they would be in a coma. It also monitors incoming sensory messages.

Question 4

The thalamus

Answer 4

The thalamus is an egg shaped part of the middle of the brain and at the top of the brainstem.
The thalamus directs all incoming and outgoing sensory and motor information, except for smell.
Thalamus means “inner chamber”