Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Neuro 400 > Brain Stem > Flashcards

Brain Stem Flashcards

0
Q

Cranial nerves

A 
I. Olfactory
II. Optic
III. Oculomotor
IV. Trochlear
V. Trigeminal
VI. Abducens
VII. Facial
VIII. Vestibulocochlear
IX. Glossopharyngeal
X. Vagus
XI. Accessory
XII. Hypoglossal.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

What makes up the brain stem?

A

Medulla oblongata
Pons
Midbrain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Olfactory nerve

A

CN I.
Sensory
Involved in smelling

Doesn’t go through thalamus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Optic nerve

A

CN II

Sensory

Vision

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Oculomotor nerve

A

CN III

Motor
In midbrain.

Eye movement (incl. pupil dilation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Trochlear nerve

A

CN IV

Motor
In midbrain

External muscles of eye.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Trigeminal nerve

A

CN V

Motor and sensory

Muscles of mastication, tongue, cheeks. Texture of taste.

In pons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Abducens nerve

A

CN VI

Motor

Eye movements (abduction).

In pons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Facial nerve

A

CN VII

Motor and sensory

Saliva, tears, facial expression

In pons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Vestibulocochlear Nerve

A

CN VIII

Sensory

Ear, balance and hearing

In pons and medulla oblongata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Glossopharyngeal nerve

A

CN IX

Sensory and motor

Taste, swallowing salivating.

In medulla oblongata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Vagus nerve

A

CN X

Motor and sensory

Pharynx, larynx, parasympathetic response, increase digestion

In medulla oblongata.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Accessory nerve

A

CN XI

Accessory to vagus

Motor

Swallowing, taste in throat, SCM and traps.

In medulla oblongata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Hypoglossal nerve

A

CN XII

Motor

Tongue movement (speech and swallowing)

In medulla oblongata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

Inferior part of brain stem
Foramen magnum –> pons

White matter contains all sensory and motor tracts between spinal cord and brain
Also contains nuclei that control vital brain function
And nuclei associated with CN VIII-XII

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Pyramids

A

Protrusions of white matter on the anterior aspect of the medulla oblongata

Formed by corticospinal tracts that control voluntary moments of limbs and trunk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Decussation of pyramids

A

In medulla oblongata, just superior to junction with spinal cord, where 90% of axons cross over

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Nuclei

A

Collection of neuronal cell bodies in CNS (= ganglion in PNS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Cardiovascular centre

A

In medulla oblongata.

Regulates rate and force of heartbeat and diameter of blood vessels.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Medullary Respiratory Centre

A

In medulla oblongata

Adjusts the basic rhythm of breathing (with pontine respiratory group)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Vomiting Centre

A

In medulla oblongata.

Barfing.

22
Q

Deglutition Centre

A

In medulla oblongata

Causes swallowing

23
Q

Olive

A

In medulla oblongata.

Oval-shaped swelling that contains inferior olivary nucleus

24
Q

Inferior olivary nucleus

A

In medulla oblongata

Receives input from cerebral cortex, red nucleus of midbrain, and spinal cord.

Neurons reach into cerebellum; allows inferior olivary nucleus to influence the cerebellum regarding muscle activity and learning new motor skills

25
Q

Nuclei associated with what are located in the posterior medulla oblongata?

A

Sensations of discriminative touch, pressure, vibration, conscious proprioception (nuclei of the posterior column)

26
Q

Gracile nuclei

A

In posterior medulla oblongata
Paired.
Nucleus of the gracile fasciculus (posterior column)

With Cuneate nucleus, involved with discriminative touch, pressure, vibration, conscious proprioception

27
Q

Cuneate nuclei

A

Paired.
In posterior medulla oblongata
Nucleus of the cuneate fasciculus (posterior column)

With gracile nucleus, involved with discriminative touch, pressure, vibration, conscious proprioception

28
Q

Medial lemniscus

A

Band of white matter connecting posterior column fasciluli (cuneate and gracile) to thalamus.

Extends through medulla, pons and midbrain.

29
Q

Gustatory nucleus

A

In medulla oblongata
Part of gustatory pathway from tongue to brain.
Receives input from tastebuds.

30
Q

Cochlear nuclei

A

In medulla oblongata
Part of auditory pathway from inner ear to brain.
Receive input from cochlea

31
Q

The nuclei of what cranial nerves are found in the medulla oblongata?

A 
VIII Vestibulocochlear
IX  Glossopharyngeal
X Vagus
XI Accessory nerves 9cranial poriton)
XII Hypoglossal
32
Q

Pons

A

Part of brain stem
Directly superior to medulla oblongata and anterior to cerebelllum.
“Bridge” between parts of the brains
Contains tracts and nuclei

Contains nuclei of CN V-VIII

33
Q

Two main structural components of the pons

A 
Ventral region (basilar pons)
Dorsal region (pontine tegmentum)
34
Q

Ventral region of pons

A

Forms large synaptic relay station consisting of scattered gray areas called pontine nuclei

35
Q

Vestibular nuclei

A

In medulla oblongata

Equilibrium pathway from inner ear to brain

36
Q

Pontine nuclei

A

Grey nuclei in ventral pons involved in conveying information in the motor cortex to the contra cerebellum.

Involved in learning new skills

37
Q

Pontine respiratory group

A 
Apneuristic area (in/exhalation; slows breathing)
Pneumotaxic area (rhythm; stops firing of apneustic area)

Works with medullary respiratory group

38
Q

Cranial nerves with nuclei in the pons:

A

V. Trigeminal
VI. Abducens
VII. Facial
VIII. Vestibulococchlear

39
Q

Midbrain

A

AKA mesencephalon
Extends from pons to diencephalon
Associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake, arousal (alertness), and temperature regulation

40
Q

Cerebral peduncles

A

In anterior midbrain
Consists of axons of the corticospinal, corticobulbar, and corticopontine tracts.
Conducts nerve impulses from motor area in cerebral cortex to spinal cord, medulla and pons.

41
Q

Tectum

A

In posterior midbrain

Contains four rounded elevations: two superior colliculi and two inferior coliculi

42
Q

Superior colliculi

A

Paired. In tectum (midbrain)
Reflex centres. Coordinates movements of the head, eyes, and trunk in response to visual stimuli.
ex. tracking a moving object, reading,

43
Q

Inferior colliculi

A

Paired. In tectum (midbrain)
Part of auditory pathway.
Coordinates movements of head, eyes and trunk in response to auditory stimuli.
Involved with startle reflex

44
Q

Substantia Nigra

A

Paired. In midbrain.
Nuclei involved in dopamine production
Also involved in subconscious muscle activities

45
Q

Red nuclei

A

Paired. In midbrain.
Look reddish because of iron-containing pigment
Axons from cerebellum and cerebral cortex synapse in red nuclei. Help control involuntary movements of skeletal muscle.
Part of the indirect pathway (motor tract)

46
Q

The nuclei of what cranial nerves are associated with the Midbrain?

A

III. Oculomotor

IV. Trochlear

47
Q

Reticular formation

A

A diffuse network of interconnected nuclei located throughout the brainstem.
Connects the spinal cord, cerebrum, and cerebellum, and mediates the overall level of consciousness.

48
Q

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

A

Ascending portion of reticular formation
Sensory axons that project to cerebral cortex

Involved in consciousness, arousal, filtering out of unimportant sensory input before it reaches consciousness (prevents sensory overload).

Affected by melatonin, anesthetics

49
Q

From where does the RAS receive its input?

A

All senses except olfactory

50
Q

Inactivation of RAS causes:

Damage to RAS causes:

A

Sleep

Coma

51
Q

Descending portion of Reticular Formation

A

Connects cerebellum and spinal cord

Regulates muscle tone, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate

Neuro 400 (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions