Which part of the brain controls blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration?

The medulla is a crucial part of the brain responsible for autonomic functions that are vital for survival, including the regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. This area of the brainstem contains several centers that control these involuntary processes.

The cardiovascular center in the medulla adjusts heart rate and blood vessel tone to maintain blood pressure. Additionally, the respiratory center located within the medulla handles the rate and depth of breathing, responding automatically to changes in carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the blood. These functions are essential for homeostasis and are performed without conscious thought, making the medulla integral to life-sustaining processes in the body.

In contrast, other regions such as the cerebellum primarily coordinate voluntary movements and balance, the hypothalamus plays a significant role in homeostasis and the endocrine system but is more associated with temperature regulation, hunger, and thirst, rather than direct control over heart rate and blood pressure, and the cerebrum is involved in higher brain functions like thought, memory, and sensory processing, but does not regulate these autonomic functions directly.