Let's simply learn about the Medulla Oblongata: the little hero that controls our lives!

Have you ever wondered how we can breathe without stopping while we sleep? Or how our heart rate increases when we run, but then returns to normal when we rest? There is a tiny, but very powerful hero in our brain that controls many of the most important things that happen inside our body, without us even realizing it. That's what we're going to talk about today. His name is the Medulla Oblongata .

What is this Medulla Oblongata?

Simply put, the medulla oblongata is a part of your brainstem . Think of our brain as the head office of a large company. Our spinal cord is like the main highway that carries information from that head office to the entire country. The medulla oblongata is the main junction, or main control center , that connects that head office and the highway. Therefore, it can be called a very important junction in our nervous system.

Just like its location, the work it does is also very important. In fact, it is the one who secretly carries out several tasks that are essential to our survival.

What are the main functions of the medulla?

Although the medulla is small, the work it does is not small. It works like our body's "automatic pilot system." Let's take a look at some of the main things it does.

Cranial Nerves (Special Nerves) that connect to the medulla

There are 12 main pairs of nerves in our skull. We call these the cranial nerves . Four of these pairs pass through the medulla. Let's take a look at what they are and what their functions are.

What is the location, appearance, and size of the medulla?

Where is the medulla located?

The medulla is located at the very bottom of our brain. Specifically, it is located where the brain connects to the spinal cord through the large opening (foramen magnum) at the bottom of our skull. Just above it is another part of the brain called the pons .

Appearance and size

This is usually in the shape of a funnel, or tube. It is wide at the top and tapers slightly towards the bottom.

It also weighs very little. On average, the medulla weighs about 0.5% of the weight of an adult's brain.

What are the diseases that affect the medulla oblongata?

If this small part is damaged, it can have a big impact. There are several major medical conditions that can affect the medulla.

• Stroke: A stroke can occur when a blood vessel supplying blood to the medulla becomes blocked or bursts. This is the most common and serious condition affecting the medulla.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: If you suffer a severe blow to the head in an accident, the medulla can also be damaged in addition to the brain.
• Cancer:Brain tumors can cause problems by pressing on or growing adjacent to the medulla.
• Aneurysms: Blood vessels in the brain become weak and bulge like a balloon, which can rupture and damage the medulla.
• Additionally, rare neurological conditions such as Multiple System Atrophy can also affect the function of the medulla.

Special names for medulla-related strokes

Doctors even use special names to describe strokes that affect different parts of the medulla.

• Wallenberg Syndrome: A common stroke condition caused by a disruption of the blood supply to the lateral wall of the medulla.
• Dejerine Syndrome: A condition caused by impaired blood supply to the middle part of the medulla.

Symptoms that may arise from a problem with the medulla

If there is a problem with the medulla, the symptoms are often similar to those of a stroke. But what's special is that some symptoms can appear on one side of the body and other symptoms on the other side of the body. That's because of the crossover of nerves we talked about earlier.

The main symptoms that can be seen are:

• Common stroke symptoms (e.g., drooping of one side of the face, numbness in an arm, difficulty speaking).
• Loss of balance, ataxia .
• Headache , nausea and vomiting.
• Difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia) .
• Hoarseness or change in voice (Dysphonia).
• Loss of sensation of temperature or pain in a part of the face or body.
• Uncontrolled eye movement (Nystagmus) .
• Paralysis of various parts of the face or body.
• Vision problems.

How do you check the health of the medulla?

If a doctor suspects a problem with the medulla, there are several tests to confirm it.

• CT scan (Computerized Tomography scan): To take high-speed images of the brain to see if there is anything, such as bleeding.
• MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): To obtain very clear, detailed images of brain tissue. This is very important for diagnosing stroke conditions.
• Blood tests: To check for other medical conditions.
• Spinal Tap:To check the fluid around the spinal cord to see if there are any signs of infection.

How do we take care of our medulla?

There are several things we can do to take care of this little hero. These are actually good for our overall health.

1. Eat a balanced diet: Nutrient deficiencies, especially vitamin B12, can affect brain health. So eat a good diet that includes leafy greens, vegetables, and fruits.

2. Stay active, maintain a healthy weight: Problems with the circulatory system and heart directly affect the brain. Stroke is a good example of this. Therefore, you can reduce the risk of stroke by exercising daily and controlling your weight. Controlling diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes is also very important.

3. Wear safety gear: Always wear a helmet if you ride a motorcycle. If you are involved in other sports or activities that could cause head injuries, use appropriate safety gear. It is very important to protect the brain and spinal cord from head injuries.

Now you probably understand how important this little medulla oblongata is to our lives. It is the main center for transmitting nerve signals in our body, as well as the automatic controller that keeps our lives going. Therefore, taking care of our entire brain and nervous system is the best way to protect this little hero.