Brainstem Flashcards
How is the brainstem named by planes/directions?
- Inferior to the midbrain-diencephalic jxn:
- Rostral = up
- Caudal = down
- Ventral = Nose
- Dorsal = Back
- Superior to the midbrain-diencephalic jxn:
- Dorsal = up
- Ventral = down
- Rostral = nose
- Caudal = back
Where are the ventricles of the brain?
- Forebrain: 2 C-shaped lateral ventricles with own choroid plexus
- CSF from these drains into intraventricular Foramen of Monroe into Third Ventricle
-
Third Ventricle: surrounded by diencephalon (midbrain diencephalic jxn) –> connects with Fourth Ventricle via cerebral aquaduct
- Choroid plexus on roof of third ventricle
- Cerebral Aquaduct = Aquaduct of Sylvius in midbrain
-
Fourth Ventricle: on dorsal side, shared between pons and medulla
- start of central canal that continues into spinal cord
- own choroid plexus to produce CSF
What are the 3 exit points for CSF circulation in the brainstem?
- Medial (x1): Foramen of Magendie
- Lateral (x2): Foramina of _L_uschka
Where does the CSF drain?
CSF drains through Magendi and Luschka into Cisern Magna
Note: it is possible to obtain CSF sample from subarachnoid space of Magna.
What are the cisterns?
- Interpeduncular
- Quadrigeminal
- Magna (largest cistern; collects CSF from fourth ventricle)
- Prepontine
All connected in subarachnoid space via blood vessels
Visualize the circulation of CSF in subarachnoid space
Pyramidal (CST) Pathway
Conduit fxn of brainstem:
- Cortext –> Internal capsule –> IC exits out as part of cerebral peduncles in midbrain –> travel through Pons –> first “bump” in medulla (pyramids) –> cross at end of medulla (most cross to contralateral side = LCST; small portion stays uncrossed as ACST)
- Crosses at caudal medulla (no fourth ventricle on dorsal side)
- This is the end of the brainstem and begining of spinal cord (cervicomedullary jxn)
Describe the corticonuclear (bulbar) pathways:
- what do they do?
- where are the 1st and 2nd order neurons?
- bilateral or ispilateral?
-
what do they do?
- descending control & modulation of sensory and motor nuclei of cranial nerves
-
where are the 1st and 2nd order neurons?
- 1st order: widespread ares of cerebral cortex
- 2nd order: in pontine& medullary reticular formation & nuclei of cranial nerves
-
bilateral or ispilateral?
-
mostly bilateral
- mostly crossed for nucleus of CN XII and for n. ambiguous innervation of soft palate and uvula (CN X)
- only ipsilateral for nucleus of CN XI
-
mostly bilateral
What are the nuclei-gracillis and cuneatus fibers?
2nd order DCML fibers
-
discriminative touch, pressure, proprioception
- 1st order: large myleinated fibers of DRG
- 2nd order: nuclei-gracillis and cuneatus fibers decussate as internal arcuate fibers
- 3rd order: VPL nucleus of thalamus
- Crossed at the lower medulla
Compare the DCML and ST pathways in the medulla
-
DCML:
- 2nd order neuron in medulla
- travels through medial medulla
-
ST:
- 2nd order neuron in spinal cord
- travels through lateral medulla
One motor and one sensory pathway make synapses in the medulla - what are they?
corticobulbar and DCML
One motor and one sensory pathway travels through the medulla - what are they?
corticospinal and spinothalamic (anteirolateral system) pathways
How can you visually tell you are in the medulla?
- pyramidal decussation
- Lower medulla: still looks like complete circle bc of proximity to spinal cord
- Upper medulla: look for snake-like inferior olive
What is the differenec btwn nerve and tract?
Nerve: in touch of periophery
Tract: touch with CNS
Which CNs are sensory? Mixed? Motor?
3 Sensory: I, II, VIII
4 Mixed (both): V, VII, IX, X
5 Motor: III, IV, VI, XI, XII
What are the classificaitons of the motor “efferent” nuclei?
- Somatic (skeletal muscles from somites - extraocular and tongue muscles)
- Visceral (activate viscera or organs)
What are the subdivisions of the motor “efferent” visceral nuclei?
- General: preganglionic parasympathetic fibers for cranial, thoracic, and abdominal smooth muscles (viscera)
-
Special: activates striated muscles (not from embryonic somites but from branchial arches)
- muscles of facial expression, jaw muscles, laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles, SCM, trapezius
Contrast the somatic and visceral sensory (affarent) nuclei?
- Somatic: carries info about changes in environment from framework of the body (receptors)
- Visceral: refers to impulses arising in / around the viscera or organs