noeud vital

From French nœud vital.

noeud vital (plural noeuds vitals)

1. (botany, obsolete) The junction between root and stem of a plant.
2. (anatomy) A small part of the brainstem that controls breathing and especially the gasping reflex.

• J. M. D. Olmsted (1944 November) “Historical note on the 'noeud vital' or respiratory center”, in Bulletin of the History of Medicine, volume 16, number 4, →JSTOR, pages 343-350

• unviolated

noeud vital m (plural noeuds vitals)

1. Alternative spelling of nœud vital