Brainstem - Medulla

Question 1

medulla external anatomy and function

Answer 1

CN 6-12

survival center - HR, BP, swallowing & breathing
cardiovascular, respiratory, vasomotor centers, autonomic control

Question 2

medullary pyramids

Answer 2

rostral/caudal medulla

paired white matter structures in ventral medulla
descending motor fibers of cotricospinal and corticobulbar tracts - called pyramidal tracts

Question 3

inferior olivary nuclei

Answer 3

rostral/caudal medulla

motor and sensory input from a multitude of sources & projects info about muscle & limb movement, mainly thru inferior cerebellar peduncle to contralateral cerebellar cortex

Question 4

solitary nuclei

Answer 4

rostral/caudal medulla

relay station for general visceral & taste afferents carried by CN 7, 9, 10
important role in initiation & integration of a wide variety of reflexes controlling CV function, respiration & GI motility

Question 5

nuclei ambiguus

Answer 5

rostral/caudal medulla

cell bodies of motor divisions of CN 9, 10, 11 innervate ipsilateral muscles of the jaw & mouth & throat that are responsible for swallowing & speaking

Question 6

inferior cerebellar peduncle

Answer 6

rostral medulla

afferent and efferent fibers btw cerebellum and medulla

Question 7

open medulla

Answer 7

rostral medulla

ventral wall of 4th ventricle

Question 8

vestibular nuclei

Answer 8

rostral medulla

Question 9

spinal trigeminal

Answer 9

rostral medulla

Question 10

area postrema

Answer 10

rostral medulla

brainstem circumventricular organ - vomiting center

Question 11

nuclei gracilis

Answer 11

caudal medulla

gives rise to dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway - major ascending somatosensory pathway carrying discriminative touch, light touch, vibration, proprioception of muscles innervated by T6 spinal nerve roots and below (lower body)

Question 12

nuclei cuneatus

Answer 12

caudal medulla

gives rise to dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway - major ascending somatosensory pathway carrying discriminative touch, light touch, vibration, proprioception of muscles innervated by T6 spinal nerve roots and above (upper body)

Question 13

vagus motor nuclei

Answer 13

caudal medulla

Question 14

hypoglossal nuclei

Answer 14

caudal medulla

Question 15

medial lemniscus decussation

Answer 15

caudal medulla

crossing of medial lemniscal dorsal pathway, carrying afferent somatosensory info from the body

Question 16

pyramidal decussation

Answer 16

cervicomedullary junction

crossing pyramidal tracts, descending to provide motor drive to the body

Question 17

spinal accessory nuclei

Answer 17

cervicomedullary junction