Medulla

Formerly called the bulb, the medulla oblongata or simply medulla, also called myelencephalon is the rearmost part of the brainstem.

Together with the metencephalon, they form the rhombencephalon.

The myelencephalon connects the metencephalon (Pons+cerebellum) to the spinal chord.

It contains the cardiac, respiratory, vomiting and vasomotor centers and therefore deals with the autonomic functions of breathing, heart rate and blood pressure as well as the sleep wake cycle.