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The medulla oblongata or simply medulla is a long stem-like structure which makes up the lower part of the brainstem. [1] It is anterior and partially inferior to the cerebellum . It is a cone-shaped neuronal mass responsible for autonomic (involuntary) functions, ranging from vomiting to sneezing . [ 2 ]
The medulla oblongata, often just referred to as the medulla, is the lower half of the brainstem continuous with the spinal cord. Its upper part is continuous with the pons. [11]: 1121 The medulla contains the cardiac, dorsal and ventral respiratory groups, and vasomotor centres, dealing with heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.
About 90% of these fibers leave the pyramids in successive bundles and decussate (cross over) in the anterior median fissure of the medulla oblongata as the pyramidal decussation or motor decussation. Having crossed over at the middle line, they pass down in the posterior part of the lateral funiculus as the lateral corticospinal tract.
Each cerebellar inferior peduncle connects the spinal cord and medulla oblongata with the cerebellum, and comprises the juxtarestiform body and restiform body. Important fibers running through the inferior cerebellar peduncle include the dorsal spinocerebellar tract and axons from the inferior olivary nucleus , among others.
Section of the medulla oblongata at the level of the decussation of the pyramids. Decussation is used in biological contexts to describe a crossing (due to the shape of the Roman numeral for ten, an uppercase 'X' , from Latin decem 'ten' and as 'as'). In Latin anatomical terms, the form decussatio is used, e.g. decussatio pyramidum.
The lateral corticospinal tract is a descending motor pathway that begins in the cerebral cortex, decussates in the pyramids of the lower medulla [1] (also known as the medulla oblongata or the cervicomedullary junction, which is the most posterior division of the brain [2]) and proceeds down the contralateral side of the spinal cord.
The figure shows the cross section of the closed medulla at the level of the sensory decussation. Number 9 illustrates the sensory decussation at the posterior column. At the level of the closed medulla in the posterior white column , two large nuclei namely the gracile nucleus and the cuneate nucleus can be found.
The axons that cross over move to the outer part of the medulla oblongata and form the lateral corticospinal tract, whereas the fibres that remain form the anterior corticospinal tract. [2] About 80% of axons cross over and form the lateral corticospinal tract; 10% do not cross over and join the tract, and 10% of fibres travel in the anterior ...