Brainstem

Question 1

What are the 3 parts of the Brainstem

Answer 1

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla

Question 2

What Secondary Vesicles during development give rise to the Brainstem?

Answer 2

Mesencephalon (Midbrain)
Metencephalon (Pons)
Myelencephalon (Medulla)

Question 3

Evolutionarily old portion of the brain; site of attachment for several Cranial nerves (PNS); highway for ascending/descending tracts; instead of gray matter, it has numerous nuclei

Answer 3

Brainstem

Question 4

The Brainstem has a well defined gray matter in a single cluster, so is very similar to the Spinal Cord (True or False)

Answer 4

False; no singular cluster of gray matter, instead has numerous nuclei

Question 5

The White matter of the Brainstem has what?

Answer 5

Ascending tracts
Descending tracts
Local tracts

Question 6

Stalk of white matter joining two areas of the nervous system (seen in Pons and Midbrain) containing axons

Answer 6

Peduncle

Question 7

Important VENTRAL structure of the Midbrain

Answer 7

Cerebral Peduncle

Question 8

Important VENTRAL structures of the Medulla (2 total)

Answer 8

Olive

Pyramid

Question 9

What are the 4 bumps on the Dorsal Midbrain called?

Answer 9

Superior and Inferior Colliculi

Question 10

The brain receives blood from what two types of arteries?

Answer 10

1. Internal carotid (vascularize anterior brain)

2. Vertebral arteries (vascularize posterior brain)

Question 11

Each internal carotid gives rise to

Answer 11

1. ACA (anterior cerebral artery)

2. MCA (middle cerebral artery)

Question 12

Vertebral arteries unite and form

Answer 12

Basilar and its pontine branches

Question 13

The Basilar artery gives rise to what other arteries besides pontine branches?

Answer 13

1. PCA (posterior cerebral artery)
2. Superior cerebellar
3. AICA (anterior inferior cerebellar artery)

Question 14

Describe the blood supply of the Midbrain

Answer 14

PCA

Basilar/Pontines

Question 15

Describe the blood supply of the Pons

Answer 15

AICA

Basilar/Pontines

Question 16

Describe the blood supply of the Medulla

Answer 16

Posterior Inferior Cerebellar artery
Veretebral artery (lateral)
Anterior Spinal artery

Question 17

The ________________ Medulla is the site for decussation of the Dorsal Columns and Corticospinal (starting to decussate)Tracts

Answer 17

Caudal

Question 18

The Caudal Medulla is the site for decussation of what tracts?

Answer 18

Medial Lemnicus
Corticospinal Tracts (Lateral)

Question 19

If the Pontine artery is obstructed in the Pons, which tract(s) will be affected

Answer 19

Medial Lemniscus

Corticospinal

Question 20

If the AICA is obstructed in the Pons, which tract(s) will be affected

Answer 20

Spinothalamic tract

Hypothalamospinal tract

Question 21

The Olive of the Mid-Medulla is supplied by what artery?

Answer 21

Veretebral artery

Question 22

An obstruction of the Anterior Spinal artery will impact what tract(s) in the Mid-Medulla?

Answer 22

Corticospinal tract (via pyramids)
Medial Lemnicus

Question 23

An obstruction of the PICA will impact what tract(s) in the Mid-Medulla

Answer 23

Spinothalamic tract

Hypothalamospinal tract

Question 24

As the Hypothalamospinal tract descends the brainstem, it migrates from _____ to ______

Answer 24

Centrally (midbrain)–>Lateral (medulla)

Question 25

As the Corticospinal tract descends the brainstem, it migrates from _________ to __________

Answer 25

Anterolateral (midbrain)—> Ventral (medulla)

Question 26

What are the 2 nuclei for the second order neurons for the Dorsal Columns in the Caudal Medulla

Answer 26

Nucleus Gracilis

Nucleus Cuneatus

Question 27

PICA branches directly from the

Answer 27

Vertebral artery