The brainstem is the lower, stalk-like part of the brain that connects the brain and spinal cord. It is responsible for regulating many of the bodys automatic functions that are essential for life, such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep. The brainstem also relays information to and from the brain to the rest of the body, playing an important role in the brains core functions, such as consciousness, awareness, and movement. The brainstem is divided into three sections in humans: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. It contains many critical collections of white and grey matter, and all efferent and afferent pathways between the cerebrum and cerebellum course through the brainstem. The brainstem also houses many of the control centers for vital body functions, such as swallowing, breathing, and vasomotor control. Brainstem death occurs when a person no longer has any brainstem functions and has permanently lost the potential for consciousness and the capacity to breathe.