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].
The brain is one of the largest and most complex organs in the human body. It is made up of more than 100 billion nerves that communicate in trillions of connections called synapses. The brain is made up of many specialized areas that work together: â¢ The cortex is the outermost layer of brain cells.Thinking and voluntary movements begin in the cortex. â¢ The brain stem is between the spinal cord and the rest of the brain. Basic functions like breathing and sleep are controlled here.â¢ The basal ganglia are a cluster of structures in the center of the brain. The basal ganglia coordinate messages between multiple other brain areas. The cortex is the outermost layer of brain cells. Thinking and voluntary movements begin in the cortex. â¢ The brain stem is between the spinal cord and the rest of the brain. Basic functions like breathing and sleep are controlled here.