medulla ob·lon·ga·ta 
(ŏb′lông-gätə)
(ŏb′lông-gätə)n. pl. medulla ob·lon·ga·tas or me·dul·lae ob·lon·ga·tae (mĭ-dŭlē ŏb′lông-gätē)
The lowermost portion of the vertebrate brain, continuous with the spinal cord, responsible for the control of respiration, blood pressure and heart rate, and certain other involuntary bodily functions.
[New Latin medulla oblongāta : Latin medulla, medulla + New Latin oblongāta, feminine of oblongātus, oblong.]