Brainstem · Structure
Medulla Oblongata
The autopilot for breathing and heartbeat.
The medulla is the lowest part of the brainstem, where the brain becomes the spinal cord. It sets your breathing rhythm, blood pressure, and reflexes like coughing, vomiting, and swallowing.
What it does
- Generating the breathing rhythm
- Regulating heart rate and blood pressure
- Protective reflexes (cough, gag, vomit)
In the real world
Why opioid overdose is fatal
Opioids suppress medullary breathing circuits. Naloxone works by clearing those receptors and letting the rhythm restart.