Baby Marla's brain cannot control her heartbeat and respiration. Which part of her brain is most likely damaged?

A) The medulla
B) The cerebellum
C) The cerebrum
D) The hypothalamus

Medulla

An area of the brainstem responsible for regulating vital functions, including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Heartbeat

The rhythmic contraction and expansion of the heart, which can be felt as a pulse, pumping blood through the circulatory system.

Respiration

The biological process involving the exchange of gases between an organism and its environment, essential for cellular respiration and energy production.