That part of the pons and medulla oblongata of the brain that controls the rate of breathing in response to changes in the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
A group of nerve cells in the pons and medulla that control breathing.
A region in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem that regulates movements of respiration. This area consists of an inspiratory center, located in the rostral half of the reticular formation overlying the olivary nuclei, and an expiratory center, located dorsal to the inspiratory center. The pons contains the apneustic center, which prolongs inhalation, and the pneumotaxic center, which helps bring about exhalation.