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Neuroscience > Brain Stem: Medulla > Flashcards

Brain Stem: Medulla Flashcards

1
Q

what is located in the inferior cerebellar peduncle?

A

afferent fibers from spinal cord and medulla to cerebellum

(posterior spinocerebellar tract, cuneocerebellar tract)

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2
Q

what general nuclei are located in the medulla?

A
  1. CN 8-12
  2. nuclei of vital centers
  3. nuclei of reticular formation
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3
Q

list the anterior surface anatomy structures of the medulla

A
  1. paired pyramids
  2. decussation of pyramids
  3. CN 6 - 12 emerging
  4. inferior olivary nuclei
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4
Q

what are the paired pyramids on the anterior surface of the medulla?

A

corticospinal tracts

carrying descending somatomotor signals

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5
Q

What is the decussation of pyramids on the anterior surface of the medulla?

A

where the descending corticospinal tracts cross to the opposite side of the body

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6
Q

T/F: 75% of the corticospinal tracts from the cerebrum cross at the decussation and form the lateral corticospinal tract?

A

FALSE

90% do

these mostly supply appendicular muscles

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7
Q

what is the medial corticospinal tract?

A

the remaining 10% of descending corticospinal tracts that do not cross to the opposite side at the decussation of pyramids in the medulla

mostly axial muscles

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8
Q

what is the role of the inferior olivary nuclei?

A

cerebellar relay center for perception of time

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9
Q

list the posterior surface anatomy structures of the medulla

A
  1. fasciculata cuneatus
  2. fasciculata gracilis
  3. tuberculum cuneatus and gracilis
  4. nuclei cuneatus and gracilis
  5. open part associated w/4th ventricle underlying the cerebellum
  6. area postrema
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10
Q

what is the area postrema?

A

floor of 4th ventricle leading to opening of central canal

vomit center

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11
Q

list the fiber tracts located at the caudal closed medulla (level of pyramid decussation)

A
  1. pyramids: corticospinal
  2. decussation of pyramids
  3. fasciculus gracilis
  4. fasciculus cuneatus
  5. spinothalamic tracts
  6. anterior spinocerebellar
  7. posterior spinocerebellar
  8. CN 5 spinal trigeminal tract
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12
Q

what type of information is carried in the pyramids at the medulla?

A

efferent voluntary from cerebral cortex to muscles of trunk and appendages

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13
Q

what type of information is carried in the fasciculus gracilis?

A

sensory touch and proprioception from the legs

(touch, pressure, pain, etc.)

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14
Q

what type of information is carried in the fasciculus cuneatus?

A

sensory touch and proprioception from the arms

from the brachial plexus (touch, pressure, pain, etc.)

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15
Q

what type of information is carried in the spinothalamic tracts?

A

sensory pain and temperature from trunk and appendages

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16
Q

what type of information is carried in the anterior spinocerebellar tract?

A

sensory info from thoracolumbar ventral horn to cerebellum

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17
Q

what type of information is carried in the posterior spinocerebellar tract?

A

sensory from legs to cerebellum

18
Q

what type of information is carried by the CN 5 spinal trigeminal tract in the medulla?

A

localized pain from the face/head

19
Q

what nuclei are found in the caudal closed medulla

(level of the pyramid decussation)

A

spinal trigeminal nucleus CN5 = afferent pain and temp of the head

20
Q

list the fiber tracts found in the rostral closed medulla

(level of decussation of medial lemniscus)

A
  1. decussation of medial lemniscus
  2. pyramids
  3. CN 5 spinal tract
  4. anterior spinocerebellar
  5. posterior spinocerebellar
  6. spinothalamic tracts
  7. medial longitudinal fasciculus
21
Q

what is the decussation of medial lemniscus in the medulla?

A

crossover point for ascending fibers for proprioception and tactile sensation from the nuceli gracilis and cuneatis (ie. dorsal column tracts)

22
Q

what type of information is carried by the medal longitudinal fasciculus?

(*list tracts and nuclei)

A

BALANCE

  1. afferent ascending sensory from vestibular nuclei
  2. descending motor from medial vestibulospinal tract
  3. tectospinal tract (head turner)
23
Q

list the nuclei found in the rostral closed medulla

A
  1. nucleus gracilis
  2. nucleus cuneatis
  3. accessory cuneate nucles
  4. spinal trigeminal nucleus CN5
  5. reticular formation
  6. inferior olivary nuclei
  7. nucleus ambiguous
24
Q

what is the accessory cuneate nucleus associated with?

A

cuneocerebellar tract

(sensory info from arms to cerebellum via inferior cerebellar peduncle)

25
what is the role of the reticular formation?
1. modulates sensory signaling to cortex 2. modulates motor signaling (reticulospinal tracts) 3. autonomic activity 4. sleep/wake 5. emotions
26
what makes up the nucleus ambiguous?
CN9 and 10 (for swallowing)
27
what differentiates the open medulla from the closed medulla?
central canal in the closed medulla is replaced with the 4th ventricle in the open medulla
28
what is the basal plate?
the floor of the 4th ventricle medially at the open medulla contains motor nuclei
29
what is the alar plate?
floor of the 4th ventricle laterally open medulla contains sensory nuclei
30
list the nuclei found in the basal plate (from medial to lateral)
1. hypoglossal nuclei (CN 12) 2. nucleus ambiguus (CN 9 and 10) 3. dorsal motor nucleus (CN 10 = PNS) 4. inferior salivatory nucleus (CN9 to parotid)
31
what does the hypoglossal nucleus in the basal plate contain?
somatomotor to skeletal muscle of tongue
32
what does the nucleus ambiguus at the basal plate do?
contain special visceral efferent to skeletal muscles of larynx and pharynx for swallowing
33
list the nuclei found in the alar plate of the open medulla (moving medially to laterally)
1. solitary nucleus (CN 7, 9, 10) 2. spinal nucleus of CN 5 3. vestibular nuclei of CN 8 (inferior and medial) 4. cochlear nucleus of CN 8
34
what is role of the solitary nucleus in the alar plate?
1. viscerosensory from CN 9 and 10 for cardiovascular and respiratory input 2. special sensory for taste (CN 7, 9, 10)
35
what does the spinal nucleus of CN 5 in the alar plate contain?
general somatic afferent for somatosensory (pain and temp) of head
36
what does the vestibular nuclei of CN 8 (inferior and medial) in the alar contain?
special sensory afferent for balance
37
what does the cochlear nuclei of CN 8 in the alar plate do?
special sensory afferent for auditory
38
What fiber tracts are found in the open medulla?
1. inferior cerebellar peduncle 2. medial longitudinal fasciculus with tectospinal tract 3. medial lemniscus 4. spinothalamic tract 5. pyramids (corticospinal tract)
39
what type of info does the inferior cerebellar peduncle carry?
afferent sensory from arms and legs to cerebellum
40
what is the function of the medial longitudinal fasciculus and the tectospinal tract?
coordinates movements of eyes and body with vestibular input for overall balance/equilibrium
41
what nuclei are not found in the alar and basal plate of the open medulla?
1. reticular formation 2. inferior olivary nuclei

Neuroscience (16 decks)

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