Medulla oblongata

White matter makes up the deeper brain tissue. It contains nerve fibers and nerve cells covered by myelin, a substance that gives the tissue its white color, protects it, and speeds electrical signals. Gray matter is the tissue on the surface of the brain. It contains neuron cell bodies, which give it its gray color. • American Association of Neurological Surgeons. • National Library of Medicine. • Sciacca S, Lynch J, Davagnanam I, Barker R. RadioGraphics. 2019;39(4):1110-1125. doi:10.1148/rg.2019180126 • Kato S, Takikawa M, Ishihara S, Yokoyama A, Kato M. Yonago Acta Med. 2014;57(1):1-14. • Kasprzak M, Ho J. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;97(5):e50-e50. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000846 • Lau KF, Tan KS, Goh KJ, Ramli N, Tai SM. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2019;48(3):109-111. doi:10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.V48N3p109 • Benghanem S, Mazeraud A, Azabou E, et al. Crit Care. 2020;24(1):5. doi:10.1186/s13054-019-2718-9 • Krainik A, Casselman JW. Diseases of the Brain, Head and Neck, Spine 2020–2023. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing; 2020:143-161. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-38490-6_12

Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • We arrive at everyone’s favorite part of the brain, the medulla oblongata ! This infamous part of the hindbrain controls various autonomic nervous system functions including respiration, digestion, heart rate, functions related to the blood vessels, swallowing, and sneezing. Being a part of the brainstem, the medulla oblongata is essential to communications between the peripheral and central nervous systems as nearly all neuronal signals are sent through this organ. The medulla oblongata is the most inferior part of the brainstem (no offense, “inferior” in this context means “lowest”), anterior to (in front of) the cerebellum. It’s one of three main regions of the brainstem, the other two being the pons and midbrain, in ascending order. Within the medulla are vital ascending and descending nerve tracts along with important brainstem nuclei. The medulla is comprised of both myelinated (white matter) and unmyelinated (gray matter) nerve fibers. Anatomy of the Medulla Oblongata The position of the medulla oblongata enables it to be the primary connection of the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system as it is continuous with the spinal cord. The medulla oblongata and spinal cord merge at the opening located at the base of the skull, the foramen magnum. Within the medulla oblongata are both white matter and gray matter. The nerves of the white matter are myelinated, meaning that they are covered in a myelin sheath made up of ...

Your Besides being the site of conscious thought, your brain controls most of your body’s involuntary actions. It tells your glands when to release hormones, regulates your breathing, and tells your heart how fast to beat. Your medulla oblongata plays a vital role in regulating those involuntary processes. Without this vital section of your brain, your body and brain wouldn’t be able to communicate with each other. Your Your The hole in your skull that lets your spinal cord pass through is called your foramen magnum. Your medulla oblongata is located at about the same level or slightly above this hole. The top of your medulla creates the floor of the fourth ventricle of your brain. Ventricles are cavities filled with cerebral spinal fluid that help provide your brain with nutrients. Despite its small size, your medulla oblongata has many essential roles. It’s critical for relaying information between your spinal cord and brain. It also regulates your cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Four of your 12 Your brain and spine communicate through columns of nerve fibers that run through your medulla called spinal tracts. These tracts can be ascending (sending information toward your brain) or descending (carrying information to your spinal cord). Each of your spinal tracts carries a specific type of information. For example, your lateral spinothalamic tract carries information related to pain and temperature. If part of your medulla becomes damaged, it can lead to an inabil...

The medulla oblongata helps regulate breathing, heart and blood vessel function, digestion, sneezing, and swallowing. This part of the brain is a center for respiration and circulation. Sensory and motor neurons (nerve cells) from the forebrain and midbrain travel through the medulla. The medulla oblongata receives its blood supply from several arteries, including the anterior spinal artery, posterior inferior cerebellar artery, and the vertebral artery’s direct branches. The medulla contains both myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers, also called white matter and gray matter, respectively. Last medically reviewed on January 20, 2018

• Median fissures: Shallow groves located along the anterior and posterior portions of the medulla. • Olivary bodies: Paired oval structures on the medulla's surface that contain nerve fibers connecting the medulla to the pons and cerebellum. Olivary bodies are sometimes called olives. • Pyramids: Two rounded masses of • Fasciculus gracilis: A continuation of the bundle of nerve fiber tracts that extend from the spinal cord to the medulla. Damage to the Medulla Injury to the medulla oblongata may result in a number of sensory-related problems. Non-fatal complications include numbness, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, acid reflux, and lack of motor control. But because the medulla also controls vital autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate, damage to this area of the brain can be fatal. Drugs and other chemical substances can impact the medulla's ability to function. An opiate overdose can be deadly because these drugs inhibit medulla activity until the body can't regulate essential functions. Sometimes, the medulla oblongata's activity is intentionally and very carefully suppressed. For example, the chemicals in anesthesia work by acting on the medulla to decrease autonomic activity. This results in a lower breathing and heart rate, relaxation of muscles, and loss of consciousness.​ This makes surgery and other medical procedures possible. Bailey, Regina. "Overview of the Medulla Oblongata." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/medulla-oblongata-anatomy-373...

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The brain is made up of many different parts, each responsible for maintaining certain processes in the body or mind. The medulla oblongata is a small area of the brain stem. Though it may be little, it’s incredibly important. What Is the Medulla Oblongata? The medulla oblongata is a part of your brainstem. Your brainstem is the part of your brain that connects to your spinal cord, a band of tissue that connects your brain through to your lower back. The brainstem is one of three parts of your brain. It’s responsible for sending messages from your brain throughout your body. These messages help regulate: • Blood pressure • Heart rhythm • Breathing • Swallowing • Hearing • Balance • The sleep/wake cycle • Facial sensations There are 12 different cranial nerves, or nerves that start in your brain. These control things like taste, facial movement, and facial sensations. The brainstem contains 10 of those 12 cranial nerves. Where Is the Medulla Oblongata Located? The brainstem consists of three parts: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. The midbrain is the top part of the brainstem. The pons is the middle portion. At the bottom, connecting to the spinal cord, is the medulla oblongata. Due to its location, the medulla oblongata plays a major part in your nervous system. Despite its importance, the medulla oblongata is relatively small, only about an inch long. It’s widest at the top, where it connects to the pons, but that width is still only about 0.78 inches across. Wh...

Medulla oblongata Medulla oblongata is the terminal part of the The medulla oblongata has many important features and functions. • It is a conduit for many ascending and descending • It houses the centers for vital functions of the body, such as those for the heart rate, blood pressure, and • It contains the This article will discuss the Key facts about the medulla oblongata Definition Medulla oblongata is the terminal part of the brainstem located between the pons and spinal cord. Nuclei Cranial nerve nuclei (IX-XII): inferior salivatory nucleus, spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve, solitary nucleus, nucleus ambiguus, dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve, nucleus of accessory nerve, nucleus of hypoglossal nerve Relay nuclei: gracile, cuneate, arcuate, and olivary nuclei Reticular nuclei: raphe nuclei, gigantocellular (magnocellular) nucleus, perihypoglossal (Roller’s) nucleus, lateral reticular nucleus and many other small clusters of neurons distributed throughout the base of the medulla Tracts Corticospinal (pyramidal) tract, cuneate fascicle, gracile fascicle, medial lemniscus, spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve, spinothalamic tract, spinocerebellar tract, inferior cerebellar peduncle, medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) Function Innervation to the viscera of the head, thorax and abdomen, heart rate and blood pressure regulation (vasomotor center), breathing regulation (respiratory center) The medulla oblongata sits between the pons and the spinal cord. Its ventral (anter...

Function What does the medulla oblongata do? Your medulla oblongata (med-oo-la ob-long-ah-ta), often just called the medulla, is a key part of your • Manages heart , circulation and breathing. Your medulla is where your cardiovascular and respiratory systems link together into a united system that controls your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and more. • Manages other automatic processes. These are things that your body often does without you having to think about them. Some examples include coughing, sneezing, swallowing, vomiting and maintaining your balance. • Nerve connections. The vast majority of major nerves converge at your spine, carrying signals to and from your brain. That means those signals must pass through your medulla. Four of your 12 cranial nerves (which connect areas of your throat and tongue directly to your brain) pass through your medulla. • Crossover point. your medulla is the location of a region called “the pyramids,” where most of the movement-related nerves in your body crisscross. That crossover is why one side of your brain almost always controls parts on the opposite side of your body. The medulla and cranial nerves Your cranial nerves (which come in pairs and use Roman numerals to set them apart) that pass through your medulla include the following: • Cranial Nerve (CN) IX: Your ninth cranial nerve handles many of the functions of your mouth. These include activating the glands that make saliva (spit) and your ability to taste and feel ...