medulla oblongata (redirected from medulla oblongatas)

medulla ob·lon·ga·ta  (blông-gät)

n. pl. medulla ob·lon·ga·tas or me·dul·lae ob·lon·ga·tae (m-dl blông-gät)

The lowermost portion of the vertebrate brain, continuous with the spinal cord, responsible for the control of respiration, circulation, and certain other bodily functions.

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[New Latin medulla oblongta : Latin medulla, medulla + New Latin oblongta, feminine of oblongtus, oblong.]

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medulla oblongata [ˌɒblɒŋˈgɑːtə]

n pl medulla oblongatas, medullae oblongatae [mɪˈdʌliː ˌɒblɒŋˈgɑːtiː]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) the lower stalklike section of the brain, continuous with the spinal cord, containing control centres for the heart and lungs

[New Latin: oblong-shaped medulla]

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medulla oblongata  (blông-gät)

Plural medulla oblongatas or medullae oblongatae (blông-gät)

The lowermost portion of the brainstem in humans and other mammals. It is important in the reflex control of involuntary processes, including respiration, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

medulla oblongata - lower or hindmost part of the brain; continuous with spinal cord; (`bulb' is an old term for medulla oblongata); "the medulla oblongata is the most vital part of the brain because it contains centers controlling breathing and heart functioning" medulla, bulb neural structure - a structure that is part of the nervous system brain stem, brain-stem, brainstem - the part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus respiratory center - the center in the medulla oblongata and pons that integrates sensory information about the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and determines the signals to be sent to the respiratory muscles