#1 Reticular Formation Flashcards
______ is the Central core of the brainstem.
Reticular formation
The Reticular formation is important in the regulation of what 6 things?
- Posture
- Some stereotypic motor behaviors
- the internal environment
- Pain regulation
- Sleep & wakefulness
- Emotional tone
What are the 3 zones of the reticular formation? DESCRIBE EACH ONE.
- Raphe or median = just adjacent to sagittal plane.
- Paramedian or medial (Middle) = mixture of large and small neurons, source of most ascending and descending projections.
- Lateral = prominent in rostral medulla and caudal pons, primarily involved in cranial nerve reflexes and visceral functions.
What causes sleep paralysis?
When you wake up but your pons does not….
RF divides into 3 tracts… what are they?
Two reticulospinal tracts:
- 1 Medial: pons; ipsilateral, descends near MLF & in anterior funiculus.
- 2 Lateral: medulla, descend bilaterally in lateral funiculus.
The Reticular formation is the major alternative to the ________ in regulating spinal motor neurons.
Corticospinal tract
Reticulo spinal tract neurons receive input from many areas including….
Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, substantia nigra
The vertical gaze center is found where?
Midbrain
The horizontal gaze center is found where?
Pons
Mastication pattern generator is located where?
Supratrigeminal Nucleus
The Medulla “Vital center” controls what?
Locomotion
Heart Rate
Respiration
Swallowing & Vomiting
Problems with the Reticular Formation can cause what stereotyped movement disorder?
Bruxism (tooth grinding)
*both opening and closing muscles are contracting at same time.
What is the Central cause theory regarding Bruxism?
Sleep-related dysfunction cause bruxism. Input to supratrigeminal nucleus may be from basal ganglia, lateral hypothalamus and central nucleus of the Amygdala.
How does the Reticular Formation moderate transmission in Pain pathways?
Periaqueductal gray (PAG) is central one well described pain suppression system.
PAG receives pain info from ______ fibers.
Spinomesencephalic fibers
PAG runs to _______ then to _______.
Raphe and then to posterior horn of spinal cord/spinal V nucleus.
_______ work to control pain by activating PAG-raphe at multiple levels.
Opiates
How is the Reticular formation related to Autonomic Reflex circuitry?
- A lot of visceral information reaches the RF.
- RF responds to environmental changes and PROJECTS to brainstem autonomics nuclei and spinal cord.
RF Centers controlling inspiration, expiration and rhythm of breathing are located where?
In pons and medulla.
Where are heart rate and blood pressure controls located?
Medulla