Which part of the brainstem is responsible for controlling heartbeat and breathing?

The medulla is a critical structure located in the brainstem responsible for regulating vital involuntary functions, particularly heartbeat and breathing. It contains several important nuclei that control autonomic functions essential for survival. The medulla oblongata acts as a relay center for signals between the brain and the body, and it plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis by managing cardiovascular and respiratory processes.

Its central role in regulating these automatic functions means that damage to the medulla can be life-threatening, affecting the body's ability to maintain normal breathing and heart rate. This function distinguishes it from other parts of the brainstem, as well as the cerebellum and thalamus, which are involved in different aspects of neural processing and coordination rather than basic autonomic control.