Medulla Oblongata

The medulla oblongata or as it is more often called, the medulla, is a bulbous structure that resembles the spinal cord and is continuous with the pons above and the spinal cord below. The medulla comprises vital nuclei and white matter that form the descending and ascending communication tracts between the spinal cord and the brain. Various cranial nerves arise from the medulla including the glossopharyngeal nerve, accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve and vagus nerve. Other nuclei within the medulla function as autonomic centers for controlling vital visceral functions including heartbeat, arterial blood pressure and rate and depth of breathing