Medullary

Medullary refers to the inner structure of an organ, particularly the medulla oblongata in the brain and the medulla of the kidney. The term is derived from the Latin word medulla, which means "middle" or "inner part".

Medulla Oblongata

The Medulla Oblongata is a part of the brainstem that controls autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. It is located between the pons and the spinal cord. The medulla oblongata is responsible for several important functions in the body, including the control of respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure, as well as reflexes such as swallowing, vomiting, coughing, and sneezing.

Medulla of the Kidney

The Kidney Medulla is the innermost part of the kidney, split up into a number of sections, known as the renal pyramids. Blood enters into the kidney via the renal artery, which splits off into a number of smaller arteries that supply the renal cortex and medulla. The function of the renal medulla is to concentrate the salt in the urine, by removing water from it.

Other Uses

In addition to its use in anatomy, the term "medullary" can also refer to the soft inner part of a bone, the Bone Marrow, or the inner part of some plants, known as the Pith.

See Also

• Medulla Oblongata
• Kidney Medulla
• Bone Marrow
• Pith