Question

Medulla is a part of
(a)Forebrain
(b)Midbrain
(c)Hindbrain
(d)Spinal cord

Answer 1

Hint: Medulla oblongata is located at the lowest part of the brain and is part of the brainstem. The brainstem is made up of three major regions which are the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. The part of the brain to which the medulla belongs also consists of pons and cerebellum.

Complete answer:
The medulla oblongata is part of the hindbrain. It is the part of the brain which is joined to the spinal cord. The medulla has centers in it that are responsible for controlling body functions such as respiration, cardiovascular reflexes, gastric secretions, sneezing, swallowing, etc. It is part of the brain stem whose function is to connect the brain with the spinal cord. The sensory and motor neurons coming from the forebrain and hindbrain pass through the medulla.

Additional Information: Let us look at the other terms mentioned in the options.
Forebrain: The forebrain is made up of the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus out of which the major portion is made up of the cerebrum. The cerebrum is further divided into two cerebral hemispheres which are connected by a tract of fibers known as the corpus callosum. The thalamus is wrapped around by the cerebrum and it is a coordinating structure for sensory and motor information. The basal part of the thalamus is known as the hypothalamus and it has a number of centers that control body temperature, urge for eating and drinking, etc.
Midbrain: It is located between the forebrain and hindbrain specifically between the thalamus and pons. It is made up of a cerebral aqueduct and corpora quadrigemina which is a structure containing four round swellings at the dorsal part of the midbrain.
 Spinal cord: The spinal cord is a long tract of nerves that begins from the end of the brain stem up to the bottom of the spine. It is responsible for connecting the body and the brain.
So, the correct option is ‘Hindbrain’.

Note: -Pons is a structure that consists of fibers interconnecting different parts of the brain.
-Cerebellum has a very convoluted surface which leads to an increase in the surface area to accommodate more neurons.
-Inner parts of the cerebral hemispheres like the amygdala, hippocampus, etc make up the limbic system which is responsible for the expression of emotional reactions.