She died of sepsis from a ruptured intestine. ( 1 CNN)Actress Patty Duke died Tuesday as a result of sepsis from a ruptured intestine, according to Mitchell K. Stubbs & Associates, the agency that represented her. She was 69.
How Your Brain Works. The basic lower brain consists of the spinal cord, brain stem and diencephalon (the cerebellum and cortex are also present, but will be discussed in later sections). In turn, the brain stem comprises the medulla, pons, midbrain, hypothalamus and thalamus [source: Health Pages].
Confidence votes 5. The function is to regulate the flow of information between the brain and the rest of the body. The brain stem is the lower part of the brain, beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. The brain stem connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord, which runs down your neck and back.onfidence votes 5. The function is to regulate the flow of information between the brain and the rest of the body. The brain stem is the lower part of the brain, beneath the cerebrum and in front of the cerebellum. The brain stem connects the rest of the brain to the spinal cord, which runs down your neck and back.