Brainstem and Cranial Nerves Flashcards
What nuclei are found in the brainstem?
Contains nuclei of cranial nerves 3-11
What are the medullary pyramids?
Where motor fibres of the corticospinal and Corticobulbar tracts run through
Lower part of the pyramids is where fibres decussate
How does the cerebellum connect to the brainstem?
via cerebellar peduncles
What tracts run through the cerebral peduncles?
Corticospinal and Corticobulbar
What cranial nerves emerge at the cerebral peduncles?
CN 3 and 5
What happens at the medulla?
Corticospinal tract and dorsal column crosses here
How is the medulla structured?
Anterior surface has pyramids
Posterior surface has dorsal column
How is the posterior part of the medulla structured?
Posterior is divided into open and closed
Closed has extension of central canal of spinal cord
The open medulla is open because theres no roof of the 4th ventricle
What cranial nerves emerge at the pons?
5, 6, 7 and 8
What cranial nerves emerge at the open (upper) medulla?
9, 10 and 12
Where does cranial nerve blood supply come from?
2 arterial supplies:
anterior derived from internal carotid
posterior derived from vertebrobasilar
What cranial nerves emerge at the closed (lower) medulla?
CN 9, 10 and 12
What are the 3 cerebellar peduncles?
inferior
middle
superior
How are cranial nerves grouped?
General somatic afferent
general somatic efferet
General visceral afferent
General visceral efferent
Special somatic afferent ( fibres carry special senses of hearing and balance)
Special visceral afferent (fibres carry taste sensation)
Special visceral efferent
