medulla oblongata

medulla ob·lon·ga·ta   (ŏb'lông-gä'tə)    n.   pl. medulla ob·lon·ga·tas or me·dul·lae ob·lon·ga·tae (mĭ-dŭl'ē ŏb'lông-gä'tē) The lowermost portion of the vertebrate brain, continuous with the spinal cord, responsible for the control of respiration, circulation, and certain other bodily functions. [New Latin medulla oblongāta : Latin medulla, medulla + New Latin oblongāta, feminine of oblongātus, oblong.]

Main Entry: medulla ob·lon·ga·ta
Pronunciation: -"äb-"lo[ng]-'gät-&
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural medullaoblongatas or medullae ob·lon·ga·tae /-'gät-E, -'gä-"tI/
: the somewhat pyramidal last part of the vertebrate brain developedfrom the posterior portion of the hindbrain and continuous posteriorly with the spinal cord, enclosing the fourth ventricle, and containing nuclei associated with most of the cranial nerves, majorfiber tracts and decussations that link spinal with higher centers, and various centers mediating the control of involuntary vital functions (as respiration)

medulla oblongata medulla ob·lon·ga·ta (ŏb'lŏng-gā'tə, -gä'tə)
n. pl. medulla ob·lon·ga·tas or medullae ob·lon·ga·tae (-gā'tē, -gä'tē)
The lowermost portion of the vertebrate brain, continuous with the spinal cord and responsible for the control of respiration, circulation, and other bodily functions.

medulla oblongata

the lowest part of the brain and the lowest portion of the brainstem. The medulla oblongata is connected by the pons to the midbrain and is continuous posteriorly with the spinal cord, with which it merges at the opening (foramen magnum) at the base of the skull.

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