Question

Which among the following controls beating of the heart and respiratory movement?
1. Medulla oblongata
2. Spinal cord
3. Spinal nerves
4. Pituitary Gland

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Medulla oblongata

The correct answer is Medulla oblongata.

• Brain, the mass of nerve tissue in the anterior end of an organism.
• The brain integrates sensory information and directs motor responses; in higher vertebrates, it is also the center of learning.
• Junctions between neurons, known as synapses, enable electrical and chemical messages to be transmitted from one neuron to the next in the brain, a process that underlies basic sensory functions and that is critical to learning, memory and thought formation, and other cognitive activities.
• The hindbrain is composed of the medulla oblongata and the pons.
• The medulla transmits signals between the spinal cord and the higher parts of the brain; it also controls such autonomic functions as heartbeat and respiration.
• The pons is partly made up of tracts connecting the spinal cord with higher brain levels, and it also contains cell groups that transfer information from the cerebrum to the cerebellum.

• Pituitary Gland-
  • The pituitary gland is a small pea-sized gland that plays a major role in regulating vital body functions and general wellbeing.
  • It is referred to as the body's 'master gland' because it controls the activity of most other hormone-secreting glands.
• Spinal Cord-
  • The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column.
  • It encloses the central canal of the spinal cord, which contains cerebrospinal fluid.
• Spinal nerves-
  • ​Spinal nerves are the major nerves of the body.
  • A total of 31 pairs of spinal nerves control motor, sensory, and other functions.
  • These nerves are located at the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal levels.