brainstem

Question 1

general function of brainstem

Answer 1

transfer information between brain and spinal cord

- relay sensory and motor information

Question 2

what is the purpose of the reticular formation?

Answer 2

maintenance of consciousness

Question 3

boundaries of the posterior fossa

Answer 3

floor - occipital bone
roof - tentorium cerebelli
contents - cerebellum and brainstem

Question 4

collectively, the superior and inferior colliculi are called..?

Answer 4

tectum

Question 5

superior colliculus communicates with _________ about _________?

Answer 5

superior colliculus
lateral geniculate
optic functions

Question 6

inferior colliculus communicates with __________ about __________?

Answer 6

auditory information
inferior colliculus
via medial geniculate

Question 7

how many cerebellar peduncles are there?

Answer 7

6; 3 on each side. (SCP/MCP/ICP)

Question 8

where are each of the cerebellar peduncles located?

Answer 8

SCP - midbrain
MCP - pons
ICP - medulla

Question 9

where are the cerebral peduncles located?

Answer 9

midbrain

Question 10

what arises from the olivary nucleus?

Answer 10

climbing fibers to the dentate nucleus of cerebellum

Question 11

what are the internal arcuate fibers

Answer 11

• crossing fibers of the DCP

- cross from n. gracilis/cuneate => midline => medial lemniscus

Question 12

spinal trigeminal tract pathway

Answer 12

1. face
2. semilunar ganglion
3. pons
4. travels down the cervical spinal cord
5. synapses on the spinal trigeminal nucleus

Question 13

what does the spinal trigeminal tract relay?

Answer 13

pain and temperature (free nerve endings

Question 14

cerebellar peduncles are on the ____ side, whereas cerebral peduncles are on the _____ side.

Answer 14

cerebellar = posterior
cerebral = ventral

Question 15

what is the function of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF?)

Answer 15

• coordination of cranial nuclei 3, 4, 6
• spinal reflexes
• coordination of eye and neck movements

Question 16

what are the deep cerebellar nuclei?

Answer 16

fat guys eat donuts (Medial to Lateral)

• fastigial
• globose
• emboliform
• dentate

Question 17

what is important about the pontine gray?

Answer 17

contains the pontocerebellar fibers (mossy fibers) traveling from the pons to the MCP

Question 18

what sits in front of the pons?

Answer 18

basilar artery

Question 19

how does the medial lemniscus enter the thalamus?

Answer 19

“feet first”

recall: arms = lateral, feet = medial…

Question 20

where do the SCP cross?

Answer 20

caudal midbrain

Question 21

what do the decussated SCP form?

Answer 21

red nucleus - involved in movement

Question 22

what is the mnemonic for the neurotransmitter nuclei?

Answer 22

SE Raphe’s Substantial Dopey Blue NE’s

Uncle Meynert has trouble remembering to move his cholinergics

Question 23

noradrenaline nucleus

Answer 23

locus ceruleus
located at junction of pons and midbrain
projects t/o CNS

Question 24

dopamine nucleus

Answer 24

substantia nigra
found in rostral midbrain
lesions => parkinson’s

Question 25

lesions in the ventral tegmental area lead to?

Answer 25

mental illness

Question 26

serotonin nucleus

Answer 26

raphe’s nucleus
emerges in caudal pons
projects throughout CNS

Question 27

acetylcholine nuclei

Answer 27

nucleus of Meynert (cerebral projections)
septal nuclei (hippocampal projections)

Question 28

destruction of acetylcholine pathways is associated with

Answer 28

alzheimers