What is the medulla oblongata?
The medulla oblongata is called the medulla oblongata. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as the lowest part of the brainstem.
What it is
- The lowest part of the brainstem.
- Continuous with the spinal cord below.
- Contains centers that regulate breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Where it is
- Between the pons above and the spinal cord below.
- Just above the foramen magnum.
- About 3 cm long.
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Last verified: 2026-07-18
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