The cardiovascular centre is a part of the human brain responsible for the regulation of the rate at which the heart beats. It is found in the medulla. Normally, the heart beats without nervous control, but in some situations (e.g., exercise, body trauma), the cardiovascular centre is responsible for altering the rate at which the heart beats. It also increases the stroke volume of the heart (that is, the amount of blood it pumps). These two changes help to regulate the cardiac output, so that a sufficient amount of blood reaches tissue.

Hormones like adrenaline can affect the cardiovascular centre and cause it to increase the rate of impulses sent to the sinoatrial node, or "pacemaker", thus increasing the rate of the heart beat.

Chemoreceptors may also prompt this regulation.

See also

• heart (especially the section on the cardiac cycle)
• chemosensors