Medulla oblongata

Medulla oblongata
Medulla oblongata
	Medulla oblongata part of the brain stem (purple colored)
	Section of the medulla oblongata at about the middle of the olivary body
Details
Part of	Brain stem
Identifiers
Latin	medulla oblongata, myelencephalon
MeSH	D008526
NeuroNames	698
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_957
TA98	A14.1.03.003
TA2	5983
FMA	62004
	Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The medulla oblongata or simply medulla is a long stem-like structure which makes up the lower part of the brainstem.^[1] 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.^[2] The medulla contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting and vasomotor centers, and therefore deals with the autonomic functions of breathing, heart rate and blood pressure as well as the sleep–wake cycle.^[2]

During embryonic development, the medulla oblongata develops from the myelencephalon. The myelencephalon is a secondary vesicle which forms during the maturation of the rhombencephalon, also referred to as the hindbrain.

The bulb is an archaic term for the medulla oblongata.^[1] In modern clinical usage, the word bulbar (as in bulbar palsy) is retained for terms that relate to the medulla oblongata, particularly in reference to medical conditions. The word bulbar can refer to the nerves and tracts connected to the medulla, and also by association to those muscles innervated, such as those of the tongue, pharynx and larynx.

^ ^a ^b Webb, Wanda G. (2017-01-01), Webb, Wanda G. (ed.), "2 - Organization of the Nervous System I", Neurology for the Speech-Language Pathologist (Sixth Edition), Mosby, pp. 13–43, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-10027-4.00002-6, ISBN 978-0-323-10027-4, retrieved 2020-11-15
^ ^a ^b Waldman, Steven D. (2009-01-01), Waldman, Steven D. (ed.), "CHAPTER 120 - The Medulla Oblongata", Pain Review, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, p. 208, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4160-5893-9.00120-9, ISBN 978-1-4160-5893-9, retrieved 2020-11-15

[:0-1] Webb, Wanda G. (2017-01-01), Webb, Wanda G. (ed.), "2 - Organization of the Nervous System I", Neurology for the Speech-Language Pathologist (Sixth Edition), Mosby, pp. 13–43, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-10027-4.00002-6, ISBN 978-0-323-10027-4, retrieved 2020-11-15

[:1-2] Waldman, Steven D. (2009-01-01), Waldman, Steven D. (ed.), "CHAPTER 120 - The Medulla Oblongata", Pain Review, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, p. 208, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4160-5893-9.00120-9, ISBN 978-1-4160-5893-9, retrieved 2020-11-15

[1]

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