Nursing Entrance Exam Practice Test 2025 – Complete Prep Resource

The medulla oblongata, a structure in the brainstem, plays a crucial role in regulating autonomic functions, particularly those that are vital for survival, such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. Damage to the medulla can disrupt these vital physiological processes.

Difficulty in breathing is a direct consequence of medulla damage because this area controls the respiratory rhythm and the involuntary actions necessary for breathing. It integrates signals from the body to maintain appropriate respiratory rates and depth based on oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Therefore, if the medulla is impaired, the body may struggle to respond adequately to changes in the respiratory needs, resulting in respiratory distress or failure.

While blurred vision, inability to remember, and inability to speak can arise from damage to other areas of the brain (such as the occipital lobe for vision, the temporal lobe for memory, or Broca's area for speech), they are not primarily associated with the function of the medulla. Thus, the correct response focuses on the medulla's critical role in breathing regulation.