The preBotzinger complex (preBotC) of the ventrolateral medulla is the kernel for inspiratory rhythm generation. However, it is not understood how inspiratory neural activity is generated in the preBotC and propagates to other regions. We analyzed the anatomical connectivity to and from the preBotC and functional aspects of the inspiratory information propagation from the preBotC on the transverse plane of the medulla. Tract-tracing with immunohistochemistry in adult rats demonstrated that neurokinin-1 receptor- and somatostatin-immunoreactive neurons in the preBotC are embedded in the plexus of axons originating in the contralateral preBotC. By voltage-imaging in slices of neonatal rats, we analyzed origination and propagation of inspiratory neural activity as depolarizing wave dynamics on the entire transverse plane as well as within the preBotC. Novel combination of pharmacological blockade of glutamatergic transmission and mathematical subtraction of the video images under blockade from the control images extracted glutamatergic signal propagations. By high-speed voltage-imaging we demonstrated conduction of action potentials along the inter-preBotC tract. Intra-preBotC imaging during a single spontaneous inspiratory cycle unveiled deterministic nonlinearities, i.e., chaos, in the population recruitment. Collectively, we comprehensively elucidated the anatomical pathways to and from the preBotC and dynamics of inspiratory information propagation: (1) from the preBotC in one side to the contralateral preBotC, which would synchronize the bilateral rhythmogenic kernels, (2) from the preBotC directly to the bilateral hypoglossal premotor and motor areas as well as to the nuclei tractus solitarius, and (3) from the hypoglossal premotor areas toward the hypoglossal motor nuclei. The coincidence of identified anatomical and functional connectivity between the preBotC and other regions in adult and neonatal rats, respectively, indicates that this fundamental connectivity is already well developed at birth.