Anatomy 20 (Neuro 3)

Question 1

What is the midbrain divided into?

Answer 1

Dorsal tectum
Ventral tegmentum

Question 2

What is the bulbopontine sulcus?

Answer 2

A transverse groove at the caudal border of the pons

Question 3

What is the basilar sulcus?

Answer 3

A shallow sulcus in which the basilar artery runs

Question 4

What are the middle cerebellar peduncles

Answer 4

Lateral extensions of neural tissue from the pons to the cerebellum

Question 5

What is the anterior median fissure?

Answer 5

a partial division of the medulla in the ventral
midline

Question 6

What is the inferior cerebellar peduncle?

Answer 6

Forms the posterolateral margin of the medulla, a thick bundle of white matter passing into the cerebellum.

Question 7

What is the tectum made up of?

Answer 7

Colliculi

Question 8

What is the superior colliculi part of?

Answer 8

Visual system, concerned with visual reflexes

Question 9

What is the inferior colliculi part of?

Answer 9

Auditory system, concerned with the reflex of
looking towards a loud noise

Question 10

What is the superior cerebellar peduncle?

Answer 10

A fibre bundle passing from the cerebellum to the midbrain

Question 11

What is the pineal gland?

Answer 11

An endocrine gland that synthesises melatonin which modulates sleep patterns in both circadian and seasonal cycles

Question 12

What is the function of the inferior brachium?

Answer 12

Conveys auditory information from the medial geniculate body (nucleus) to the inferior colliculi

Question 13

What is the function of the superior brachium?

Answer 13

Conveys visual information from the lateral geniculate
body (nucleus) to the superior colliculi

Question 14

What does the tegmentum in the pons contain?

Answer 14

Contains the nuclei of the:
Abducens (Cn 6),
Facial (Cn 7)
Trigeminal (Cn 5 [motor division - muscles of mastication])

Question 15

What does the posterior median sulcus mark?

Answer 15

The midline of the medulla

Question 16

What is the gracile tubercle?

Answer 16

Round swelling on either side of the midline, overlying the gracile fasciculus

Question 17

What is the function of the gracile fasciculus?

Answer 17

Carries fine touch, vibration, two-point discrimination
and proprioception from the lower limb

Question 18

What is the cuneate tubercle?

Answer 18

A swelling lateral to the gracile tubercles, overlying the cuneate fasciculus

Question 19

What is the function of the cuneate fasciculus?

Answer 19

Carries fine touch, vibration, two-point discrimination
and proprioception from the upper limb

Question 20

What does the tegmentum in the medulla contain?

Answer 20

Contains the nuclei of the:
Glossopharyngeal (Cn 9)
Vagus (Cn 10)
Accessory (Cn 11)
Hypoglossal (Cn 12)

Question 21

What is the dorsal column nuclei?

Answer 21

A major relay site for the dorsal column sensory pathway

Question 22

What is Bell’s palsy?

Answer 22

Acute unilateral inflammation of the facial nerve (lower motor neurone)

Question 23

What is Bell’s palsy caused by?

Answer 23

Herpes zoster (virus that also causes shingles), a vesicular rash is present in the external auditory canal and on the oropharynx

Question 24

What are signs and symptoms of Bell’s Palsy?

Answer 24

▪ Pain behind the ear.
▪ Paralysis of facial muscles and failure to close eye.
▪ Absent corneal reflex.
▪ Hyperacusis (certain sounds heard as unpleasantly loud).
▪ Loss of taste on anterior two-thirds of tongue.

Question 25

What is Bulbar palsy?

Answer 25

Impairment of the functions of the cranial nerves that arise from the medulla (Cn 9, 10, 11 and 12)

Question 26

What are signs and symptoms of Bulbar Palsy?

Answer 26

▪ Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
▪ Dysarthria (slurring of speech).
▪ Dysphonia (difficulty forming sounds).
▪ Sialorrhea (excess saliva / dribbling).
▪ Wasting and fasciculating tongue.
▪ Absent gag reflex.

Question 27

What are causes of Bulbar Palsy?

Answer 27

Motor neurone disease (MND)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Guillain-Barré syndrome

Question 28

What is central pontine myelinolysis?

Answer 28

Destruction of myelin in the pons

Question 29

What are signs and symptoms of central pontine myelinolysis?

Answer 29

▪ Confusion.
▪ Balance problems.
▪ Dysphagia.
▪ Hallucinations.
▪ Reduced consciousness.
▪ Slurred speech.
▪ Tremor and weakness in the face or limbs

Question 30

When does central pontine myelinolysis occur?

Answer 30

When low sodium levels (hyponatremia) are corrected too quickly

Question 31

What is the mnemonic for the geniculate bodies?

Answer 31

MALE
Medial geniculate for Auditory system
Lateral geniculate for Visual System (Eyes)

Question 32

What is the function of the optic nerve?

Answer 32

Carries the axons of the cells in the ganglionic layer of the retina

Question 33

Where does the optic nerve enter the skull?

Answer 33

Through the optic canal

Question 34

Where do the fibres from the nasal portion of the retina cross at?

Answer 34

Optic Chiasm

Question 35

Where is the optic chiasm located?

Answer 35

Anterior to the pituitary infundibulum

Question 36

Where do the optic tracts carry the fibres from the nasal portion of the retina?

Answer 36

Carry the fibres posterolaterally round the cerebral peduncles to terminate at the lateral geniculate bodies of the
thalamus

Question 37

Where do the axons of the nerve cells from the lateral geniculate pathways pass?

Answer 37

Pass posteriorly through the internal capsule to the visual cortex of the occipital lobe

Question 38

What does a pituitary tumour cause?

Answer 38

Causing under- or overproduction of hormones and
may lead to bitemporal hemianopia due to pressing on the optic chiasm where nerve fibres from both optic nerves cross

Question 39

What is bitemporal hemianopia?

Answer 39

Impaired peripheral vision in the outer temporal halves of the visual field of each eye