Medulla oblongata (nonfiction)

Medulla oblongata (animation).

The medulla oblongata (or medulla) is a cone-shaped neuronal mass in the brain.

It is located in the hindbrain, anterior to the cerebellum.

Function

The medulla oblongata is responsible for multiple autonomic (involuntary) functions ranging from vomiting to sneezing.

The medulla contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting and vasomotor centers and therefore deals with the autonomic functions of breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.

Evolutionary history

Both lampreys and hagfish possess a fully developed medulla oblongata.

Since these are both very similar to early agnathans, it has been suggested that the medulla evolved in these early fish, approximately 505 million years ago.

The status of the medulla as part of the primordial reptilian brain is confirmed by its disproportionate size in modern reptiles such as the crocodile, alligator, and monitor lizard.

Fiction cross-reference

• Medusa Obligata

External links

• Medulla oblongata @ Wikipedia