Medulla Oblongata (Noun)
Meaning
Lower or hindmost part of the brain; continuous with spinal cord; (`bulb' is an old term for medulla oblongata); "the medulla oblongata is the most vital part of the brain because it contains centers controlling breathing and heart functioning".
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The medulla oblongata plays a crucial role in regulating various involuntary functions such as heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.
- Damage to the medulla oblongata can result in severe neurological dysfunction or even death due to its critical role in controlling breathing and blood circulation.
- Injury to the medulla oblongata may lead to loss of basic functions, as it controls automatic processes like digestion and respiration.
- The medulla oblongata is an elongated mass of nervous tissue connecting the pons to the spinal cord and hosting numerous centers that regulate autonomic functions.
- Anatomists distinguish between the superior medulla oblongata, overlapping the pons, and the inferior, which forms part of the upper spinal cord.