Organ component of neuraxis that has as its parts the medullary reticular formation, inferior olivary complex and cochlear nuclear complex, among other structures[FMA]. The medulla oblongata lies directly above the spinal cord and controls vital autonomic functions such as digestion, breathing and the control of heart rate[GO].

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Illu_pituitary_pineal_glands.jpg

The posterior region of the brain that is continuous with the spinal cord. [Bemis_WE, Functional_Anatomy_of_the_Vertebrates:_An_Evolutionary_Perspective, Glossary_G-17, Grande_L, Liem_KF, Third_Edition_(2001)_Orlando_Fla.:_Harcourt_College_Publishers, Walker_WF][VHOG], Posterior portion of the hindbrain which controls respiration, heartbeat, digestion, and swallowing as well as some locomotor responses.[AAO]

bulbus

medulla, bulb

uberon

metepencephalon, medulla oblonzata

Classical anatomical studies subdivided the vertebrate rhombencephalon into pons and medulla oblongata. (...) The medulla oblongata appears therefore as a tagma, that is, a group of segmental units (pseudorhombomeres, in this case) sharing some morphological and molecular characteristics, and in some aspects different from the segmental units present in adjoining brain regions, pons and spinal cord.[well established][VHOG]

UBERON:0001896

http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/uberon.owl, http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/cl.owl

http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/UBERON_0000988

• brainstem