Located of the brainstem; controls breathing and heartbeat; connects the medulla to the two sides of the cerebellum to help coordinate and integrate movement on each side of side of the body; involved in sleep and dreaming.
Serious symptoms related to the bite of a brown recluse spider include low platelet count, destruction of the red blood cells, blot clots in capillaries, inability to form clots, acute renal failure or kidney damage, coma, and death.
Despite the large wounds often associated with brown recluse, they are much less likely to cause significant injury than black widows. Skin infections may cause boils, which are often misdiagnosed as brown recluse spider bites (see spider bite pictures).