Medulla oblongata
Anatomy
The medulla oblongata is a cone-shaped neuronal mass responsible for multiple autonomic functions, ranging from vomiting to sneezing. It is located in the brainstem, anterior and partially inferior to the cerebellum. It is a critical part of the brain as it controls several functions that are vital for life.
The medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. It is often referred to as simply the medulla. The medulla contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting and vasomotor centers and deals with autonomic functions, such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.
Structure
The medulla oblongata is a roughly cylindrical mass of nervous tissue, which from the upper part continues into the pons and from the lower part is continuous with the spinal cord. Its anterior surface is divided by the anterior median fissure, which communicates below with the anterior median fissure of the spinal cord.
The medulla oblongata houses the nuclei of the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth cranial nerves. These are the glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, and hypoglossal nerves, respectively.
Function
The medulla oblongata plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system, as it controls processes such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, and blood pressure. It also serves as a relay station for the crossing of motor tracts between the spinal cord and the brain.
The medulla oblongata controls autonomic functions, and relays nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord. It is also responsible for controlling several major points of the autonomic nervous system, including the cardiac, respiratory, and vasomotor centers.
Clinical significance
Damage to the medulla oblongata can be deadly, because the medulla oblongata, by virtue of its control over the medullary rhythmicity area of the respiratory centers, controls the rate at which the body breathes. If it is damaged, signals from the brain to the muscles that produce breathing might not be able to reach their destination, leading to respiratory failure.
In addition, the medulla oblongata also controls heart rate and blood pressure, and damage to this area of the brain can also lead to cardiovascular problems.