medulla oblongata
structure of the brainstem that joins your spinal cord to the rest of the brain and it is responsible to involuntary functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. It also integrates sensory and motor signals and coordinates reflexes.
AI overview
The medulla oblongata is a part of your brainstem that connects your spinal cord to the rest of your brain and controls involuntary functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. It also processes sensory and motor signals and coordinates your body's reflexes, making it essential for basic survival functions.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Research
30,609 papersvia PubMed
Article
The medulla oblongata or simply medulla is a long stem-like structure which makes up the lower part of the brainstem. It is anterior and partially inferior to the cerebellum. It is a cone-shaped neuronal mass responsible for autonomic (involuntary) functions, ranging from vomiting to sneezing. The medulla contains the cardiovascular center, the respiratory center, vomiting and vasomotor centers, responsible for the autonomic functions of breathing, heart rate and blood pressure as well as the sleep–wake cycle. "Medulla" is from Latin, ‘pith or marrow’. And "oblongata" is from Latin, ‘lengthened or longish or elongated'.
During embryonic development, the medulla oblongata develops from the myelencephalon. The myelencephalon is a secondary brain vesicle which forms during the maturation of the rhombencephalon, also referred to as the hindbrain.