Life Science Final Practice Exam

Heartbeat and breathing are automatic processes regulated by structures in the brainstem. The brainstem houses the centers that control these essential functions: the medulla oblongata contains the cardiac center that adjusts heart rate and the respiratory center that sets breathing rhythm. The pons helps modulate breathing patterns. In contrast, the cerebrum handles conscious thought and sensory processing, the cerebellum coordinates movement and balance, and the spinal cord mainly transmits signals between the brain and body.