Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for controlling breathing and heart rate?

The pons is primarily responsible for regulating vital functions, including breathing and heart rate. It serves as a crucial relay station between different parts of the brain and is involved in the automatic control of various autonomic functions. Within the pons, there are specialized centers that work together with the medulla oblongata, another part of the brainstem, to maintain and adjust breathing rhythms and manage heart rate through the autonomic nervous system.

Understanding the roles of other brain structures helps clarify why the pons is the correct choice. The cerebellum is mainly associated with coordination and balance rather than autonomic control. The thalamus acts as a sensory relay station, processing information before it reaches the cortex, and does not directly regulate heart rate or breathing. The hypothalamus plays a role in regulating various homeostatic functions, including temperature and hunger, but it is not primarily responsible for the direct control of breathing and heart rate as the pons is.