English noun: medulla oblongata | |||
| 1. | medulla oblongata (body) lower or hindmost part of the brain; continuous with spinal cord; (`bulb' is an old term for medulla oblongata) | ||
| Samples | The medulla oblongata is the most vital part of the brain because it contains centers controlling breathing and heart functioning. | ||
| Synonyms | bulb, medulla | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | neural structure | ||
| Part holonym | respiratory center | ||
| Part meronym | brain stem, brain-stem, brainstem | ||