BMB 1 - Brainstem Nuclei & Tracts Flashcards
Identify the three major portions of the brainstem in this image.


What are the three longitudinal portions of the brainstem?
Basis (basement - dark gray)
Tegmentum (floor - light gray)
Tectum (roof - labeled)

Which longitudinal tract of the brainstem contains tracts from the cortex (especially the corticospinal)?

The basis (basement - dark gray)
The tegmentum of the brainstem (the light gray) contains which cranial nerve nuclei?

III - XII
(all but I and II)
What structures are associated with the tectum?

Midbrain integrative structures - e.g. center for vision (superior colliculus) or hearing (inferior colliculus)

Identify the cranial nerves which emerge from the midbrain.
CN III and IV
Identify the cranial nerves which emerge from the pons.
V, VI, VII, VIII
Identify the cranial nerves which emerge from the medulla.
IX, X, XI, and XII
Which cranial nerves exit ventrally?
Which cranial nerves exit dorsally?
All but IV;
IV only
Where does the trochlear nerve exit the midbrain?
Dorsally; inferior to the inferior colliculus
Where does the trigeminal nerve exit the brainstem?
Near the middle cerebellar peduncle

Where does the abducens nerve exit the brainstem?
Medially; along the pontomedullary junction

Where does the facial nerve exit the brainstem?
Along the pontocerebellar junction;
lateral to CN VI

Where does the vestibulocochlear nerve exit the brainstem?
Along the pontocerebellar junction;
lateral to CN VII

Where does the glossopharyngeal nerve exit the brainstem?
The groove dorsal to the olive in the postolivary sulcus

Where does the vagus nerve exit the brainstem?
The groove dorsal to the olive in the postolivary sulcus

Where does the accessory nerve exit the brainstem?
It does not;
it exits the cervical spinal cord (not technically a cranial nerve)

Where does the hypoglossal nerve exit the brainstem?
Between the pyramid and the olive (in the pre-olivary sulcus)

In what structures do the dorsal columns end?
The gracile and cuneate tubercles
Of the cerebellar peduncles, which provide the major input to the cerebellum?
The middle cerebellum peduncles
Of the cerebellar peduncles, which provide the major output from the cerebellum?
The superior and inferior cerebellar peduncles
From caudal to rostral, what are the four main parts of the internal organization of the brainstem?
Closed medulla >
Open medulla >
Pons >
Midbrain
Of the four main parts of the internal organization of the brainstem (closed medulla, open medulla, pons, midbrain), in which do the fasciculus cuneatus and fasciculus gracilis terminate?
The closed medulla
This is a cross-section of what portion of the brainstem?

The closed medulla
(the otter)



























