The brainstem controls vital functions like breathing, heart rate, digestion, and awake/alert arousal.
the brainstem includes three structures: the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata.
The medulla contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting centers, so it's responsible for heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.
The midbrain is associated with: vision, hearing, motor control, awake/alert arousal
The pons is involved in: hearing, equilibrium, taste, touch and pain in the face, eye movement, facial
expressions, chewing, swallowing.
