Medulla Oblongata : Definition, Structure and Functions

A. UNDERSTANDING THE DEFINITION OF MEDULLA OBLONGATA

The brain is divided into five sections, namely a Cerebrum and cerebellum, midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata. Under the cerebellum are pons which serves as the respiratory center. Well, under the pons, there is an organ called the medulla oblongata.

Medulla oblongata is one part of the brainstem that are Located under the pons. Medulla oblongata itself plays a role in controlling the functions of the autonomic (involuntary functions) system such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, vascular function, as well as swallowing and sneezing.

Medulla oblongata is also an organ that can deliver signals from the brain before it is submitted to the nerves in the spine (spinal cord). Therefore, the medulla oblongata is a very important organ in the human body.

MEDULLA OBLONGATA

B. THE STRUCTURE OF MEDULLA OBLONGATA

Medulla oblongata (Cord marrow / cord connection) has some structure / part which has the characteristics and duties of each, these sections are:

1. Descending Tract

Descending tracts are neural pathways from the brain and pass through to the medulla oblongata and the to the spinal cord. Descending tract functions is to carry impulses (signals) received from brain nerve to be delivered to the spinal cord before continuing to the organs of the body.

2. Ascending Tract

Ascending tract is the opposite of the descending tract. If the descending tract comes from the brain, the ascending tracts coming from the spinal cord, and serves to carry impulses (signals) from the organs through the spinal cord, and pass through the medulla oblongata then to the brain.

3. Spinal Nerves Nucleus

There are three nucleus (core) nerve in the medulla oblongata, the hipoglossus nucleus (which is the core of the nerve to innervate part of the tongue), motoric dorsal nucleus of the vagus (to control the motoric movement) and the nucleus of the solitaries tract.

PARTS OF MEDULLA OBLONGATA

C. THE FUNCTIONS OF MEDULLA OBLONGATA

As mentioned before, the medulla oblongata plays a role in controlling the body's autonomic functions such as breathing rhythm control, set the rhythm of digestion, regulate heart rhythm, regulates the function of blood vessels, and others. These functions are influenced by several unique receptors located throughout the body and will react to environmental changes. For example, the chemoreceptors in the lungs that will send information to the medulla oblongata when the body is exercising, the medulla oblongata will send a chemoreceptors that improve the body's oxygen uptake in order to survive in this situation. These kind of receptors will control medulla oblongata in order to regulate the respiratory rhythm in accordance with the condition of the body.

There are a lot of medulla oblongata’s function that we still dont know. But for sure, here are some of the functions of the medulla oblongata :

As a connection between the brain and spinal cord
Regulate the body's reflex
Stimulate thirst
regulate emotions
Responsible for some of autonomic function
Affect hormone production in the pituitary gland in the brain
Controlling bed activities
Controlling the diameter of blood vessels, widened or narrowed in accordance with the state of the body
Detect the degree of acidity of the blood
As a central regulator of heart rate
Assist breathing rhythm
Regulate blood circulation
Regulates body temperature

How Does medulla oblongata works ?

1. Parts of Medulla oblongata that serves as the respiratory center:

Dorsal Group, the nervous system that forms the automatic breathing.

Ventral Group, a group of nervous system which innervate the muscles of respiration

2. The medulla oblongata as regulator of the Heart

Cardioaccelerator Center, which works to increase heart rate and strength of heart contractions

Cardioinhibitori Center, which works to reduce heart beat to the vagus nerve (parasympathetic nerve)

3. The medulla oblongata as Vasomotor Center

Medulla as vasomotor means that medulla serves to control the diameter of our blood vessel function through sympathetic nerves in the measurement of blood pressure

4. The medulla oblongata as Non-Vital Reflex Center

In this case, the medulla oblongata function is to regulation of swallowing, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, choked.

D. MEDULLA OBLONGATA CIRCULATION SYSTEM

Medulla oblongata is just like other organs in the human body, it has a special blood vessels that carry blood to the medulla oblongata itself. There are several branches of the blood vessels that circulate medulla oblongata, which are:

1. Anterior Spinal Artery

These arteries supplying blood and nutrition for almost all part of meudulla oblongata.

2. Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA)

This artery is a major branch associated with anterior spinal artery. These blood vessels provide blood supply to the back side (posterolateral) of medulla oblongata.

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Biology