CVS Practice Test 2025 - Free CVS Practice Questions and Study Guide

The medulla is primarily responsible for regulating both sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow to the heart and blood vessels because it houses vital autonomic centers that control cardiovascular functions. Specifically, the medulla contains the cardiovascular center, which is crucial for maintaining homeostasis by adjusting heart rate and blood vessel diameter in response to physiological demands.

It receives input from various sensory receptors throughout the body and integrates this information to modulate autonomic output. The sympathetic nervous system is activated during stress or physical activity, leading to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, while the parasympathetic system, primarily through the vagus nerve, promotes a decrease in heart rate and facilitates relaxation during rest.

In contrast, other parts of the brain listed do not have the same direct influence on autonomic regulation. The cerebellum primarily coordinates movement and balances, the pons plays a role in regulating breathing and relaying signals to the cerebellum, and the cortex is involved in higher cognitive functions and does not directly manage autonomic functions like heart rate or blood pressure.