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 divided into: 1  Cerebrum - the largest part of the brain. It is the centre for thought and intelligence. 2  Cerebral cortex - the outside of the cerebrum. Its function is learning, reasoning, language and memory. 3  Cerebellum - lies below the cerebrum at the back of the skull.