brainstem Flashcards
general function of brainstem
transfer information between brain and spinal cord
- relay sensory and motor information
what is the purpose of the reticular formation?
maintenance of consciousness
boundaries of the posterior fossa
floor - occipital bone
roof - tentorium cerebelli
contents - cerebellum and brainstem
collectively, the superior and inferior colliculi are called..?
tectum
superior colliculus communicates with _________ about _________?
superior colliculus
lateral geniculate
optic functions
inferior colliculus communicates with __________ about __________?
auditory information
inferior colliculus
via medial geniculate
how many cerebellar peduncles are there?
6; 3 on each side. (SCP/MCP/ICP)
where are each of the cerebellar peduncles located?
SCP - midbrain
MCP - pons
ICP - medulla
where are the cerebral peduncles located?
midbrain
what arises from the olivary nucleus?
climbing fibers to the dentate nucleus of cerebellum
what are the internal arcuate fibers
- crossing fibers of the DCP
- cross from n. gracilis/cuneate => midline => medial lemniscus
spinal trigeminal tract pathway
- face
- semilunar ganglion
- pons
- travels down the cervical spinal cord
- synapses on the spinal trigeminal nucleus
what does the spinal trigeminal tract relay?
pain and temperature (free nerve endings
cerebellar peduncles are on the ____ side, whereas cerebral peduncles are on the _____ side.
cerebellar = posterior cerebral = ventral
what is the function of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF?)
- coordination of cranial nuclei 3, 4, 6
- spinal reflexes
- coordination of eye and neck movements
what are the deep cerebellar nuclei?
fat guys eat donuts (Medial to Lateral)
- fastigial
- globose
- emboliform
- dentate
what is important about the pontine gray?
contains the pontocerebellar fibers (mossy fibers) traveling from the pons to the MCP
what sits in front of the pons?
basilar artery
how does the medial lemniscus enter the thalamus?
“feet first”
recall: arms = lateral, feet = medial…
where do the SCP cross?
caudal midbrain
what do the decussated SCP form?
red nucleus - involved in movement
what is the mnemonic for the neurotransmitter nuclei?
SE Raphe’s Substantial Dopey Blue NE’s
Uncle Meynert has trouble remembering to move his cholinergics
noradrenaline nucleus
locus ceruleus
located at junction of pons and midbrain
projects t/o CNS
dopamine nucleus
substantia nigra
found in rostral midbrain
lesions => parkinson’s
lesions in the ventral tegmental area lead to?
mental illness
serotonin nucleus
raphe’s nucleus
emerges in caudal pons
projects throughout CNS
acetylcholine nuclei
nucleus of Meynert (cerebral projections) septal nuclei (hippocampal projections)
destruction of acetylcholine pathways is associated with
alzheimers
