The Cardiac Control Centre is located in which part of the brain?

• A. Pons
• B. Medulla Oblongata
• C. Hypothalamus
• D. Cerebral Cortex

Answer: (B)

Heart rate is controlled by autonomic centers in the brainstem, with the medulla oblongata housing the cardiac control center. This region contains the cardioinhibitory center, which slows the heart via parasympathetic (vagal) signals to the SA and AV nodes, and the cardioacceleratory center, which speeds it up via sympathetic pathways. It also integrates input from sensors like baroreceptors and chemoreceptors to adjust heart rate as needed. The other areas don’t serve as the primary cardiac control center: the pons mainly supports respiration and some autonomic modulation, the hypothalamus influences autonomic activity in response to homeostatic needs but doesn’t directly set heart rate, and the cerebral cortex can affect autonomic tone indirectly but not provide the dedicated cardiac control center.