Final answer:
The vagal center regulates blood pressure through cardiac reflexes. It receives input from various receptors and adjusts sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation to regulate heart function. Proprioreceptors and the baroreceptor reflex play important roles in this regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The vagal center regulates blood pressure through a process known as cardiac reflexes. The cardiovascular center in the medulla oblongata receives input from various receptors, including proprioreceptors, baroreceptors, and chemoreceptors, as well as stimuli from the limbic system. These inputs enable the cardiovascular centers to monitor and regulate heart function precisely by adjusting sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation.
Increased physical activity, detected by proprioreceptors, leads to increased firing rates. The cardiac centers then suppress parasympathetic stimulation and increase sympathetic stimulation to increase blood flow. The baroreceptor reflex also plays a role in regulating heart function based on blood flow.