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WHAT IS CALLED BRAIN DEATH AND CLINICAL DEATH
Brain death is defined as the irreversible loss of function of the brain, including the brain stem. The most common causes of brain death in adults are traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
 Brain death is defined as a complete and irreversible loss of all brain activity on a cellular level. This can be seen with severe lack of oxygenation to the brain cells, also known as brain ischemia. This may occur after a cardiac arrest, due to loss of blood supply to the brain. In patients who are brain dead other body systems may continue to function normally. They may have intact deep tendon reflexes, but any type of movement or cognitive function is impossible. Cortical functions, such as speech, vision, and consciousness are affected before the brain stem functions. Patients with intact brain stem function may be able to open the eyes, yawn and sleep, but lack any higher cortical neurological  functions.

Clinical death is the medical term for cessation of blood circulation and breathing, the two necessary criteria to sustain life. It occurs when the heart stops beating in a regular rhythm, a condition called cardiac arrest.Death has traditionally been defined when three biological parameters are met: 1) there is no heart beat, 2) there is no breathing and 3) there is no brain function – this is determined when a light is shone into the eyes and there are fixed dilated pupils which indicate a lack of brain stem activity.  The brain stem is an area of the brain that keeps us alive.




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