medulla oblongata

noun

medulla ob·​lon·​ga·​ta -ˌä-ˌblȯŋ-ˈgä-tə 

plural medulla oblongatas or medullae oblongatae -ˌä-ˌblȯŋ-ˈgä-tē 

-ˌtī

: the part of the vertebrate brain that is continuous posteriorly with the spinal cord and that contains the centers controlling involuntary vital functions see brain illustration

Examples of medulla oblongata in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This area, known as the medulla oblongata, serves as your control tower for breathing. —Blake Nelson, The Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2024

The membrane releases chemicals that activate the trigeminal nerve (a large nerve responsible for sensation in the face), which then sends an electric signal to a part of the brainstem called the medulla oblongata. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Aug. 2024

The library nearly resembles the shape of a brain, with the entrance being the medulla oblongata and the robust flooring as the cerebellum. —Rajvinder Singh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023

Regardless of what underlies it, the sensation of nausea originates in the medulla oblongata, a part of your brain that sits just above your spinal cord. —Patrick Wilson, Outside Online, 13 Apr. 2020

Another part of the brain, the medulla oblongata, gets in touch with the heart, which increases its rate and the amount of blood pumped per beat. —Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, 12 Nov. 2020

Your brain interprets particularly suspenseful information through the medulla oblongata, which produces adrenaline. —Hannah Malach, Good Housekeeping, 22 Sep. 2020

That receptor then sends a signal through the cranial nerves to the medulla oblongata, which is part of your brainstem, and through to your primary gustatory complex, which interprets individual signals as flavors. —Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2020

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, oblong medulla

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

medulla oblongata

noun

medulla ob·​lon·​ga·​ta -ˌäb-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgät-ə 

: the somewhat pyramid-shaped bottom part of the vertebrate brain that joins the spinal cord and is concerned with the control of involuntary activities (as breathing and beating of the heart) necessary for life

Medical Definition

medulla oblongata

noun

medulla ob·​lon·​ga·​ta -ˌäb-ˌlȯŋ-ˈgät-ə 

plural medulla oblongatas or medullae oblongatae -ˈgät-ē  -ˈgä-ˌtī 

: the somewhat pyramidal last part of the vertebrate brain developed from 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, major fiber tracts and decussations that link spinal with higher centers, and various centers mediating the control of involuntary vital functions (as respiration)