Brainstem Nuclei

Question 1

Oculomotor Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 1

Caudal midbrain (medial)
GSE
Voluntary movement of superior rectus, inferior rectus, medial rectus and inferior oblique muscles of the eye

Question 2

Edinger-Westphal Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 2

Caudal midbrain (medial)
GVE
Pupillary reflex

Question 3

Trochlear Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?
What makes it different?

Answer 3

Caudal midbrain (medial)
GSE
Voluntary movement of superior oblique muscle of the eye
Ipsilateral nuclei

Question 4

Mesencephalic Nucleus:
What cranial nerve is it for?
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 4

CN V
Caudal midbrain
GSA
Sense of proprioception - prevents biting of tongue

Question 5

Abducens Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 5

Caudal pons (medial)
GSE
Voluntary movement of lateral rectus muscle of the eye

Question 6

Motor Nucleus of Trigeminal (CN V):
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 6

Rostral pons (lateral, but medial to main sensory nucleus of CN V)
SVE
Voluntary motor to mylohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, tensor tympani, tensor palatini, masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, lateral pterygoid muscles

Question 7

Facial Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 7

Caudal pons (middle)
SVE
Voluntary movement of muscles of facial expression

Question 8

Superior Salivatory Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 8

Caudal pons
GVE
Control of submandibular, sublingual, lacrimal and glands of pterygopalatine ganglion

Question 9

Main Sensory Nucleus of Trigeminal (CN V):
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 9

Rostral pons (lateral and lateral to motor nucleus of CN V)
GSA
Sense ouch and vibration from face

Question 10

Vestibular Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 10

Caudal pons
SSA
Sense of balance

Question 11

Hypoglossal Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 11

Medulla (medial)
GSE
Voluntary motor to muscles of the tongue

Question 12

Nucleus Ambiguus:
Where is it located?
What are the contributing cranial nerves?
What are the modalities?
What does it do?

Answer 12

Caudal medulla (middle)
CN IX, X
SVE
Voluntary motor to stylopharngeus muscle and muscles of the larynx, pharynx and palate

Question 13

Inferior Salivatory Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 13

Caudal medulla
GVE
Control of parotid gland

Question 14

Dorsal Motor Nucleus of Vagus (CN X):
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 14

Caudal medulla
GVE
Control of thoracic and abdominal viscera

Question 15

Nucleus Solitarius:
Where is it located?
What are the contributing cranial nerves?
What are the modalities?
What does it do?

Answer 15

Medulla (donut)
CN VII, IX, X
SVA - sense of taste
GVA - vital receptors

Question 16

Cochlear Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 16

Medulla
SSA
Sense of hearing

Question 17

Accessory Spinal Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 17

Caudal medulla, but really cervical spinal cord (spongy, middle)
SVE
Voluntary movement of SCM and trapezius

Question 18

Spinal Nucleus of Trigeminal (CN V):
Where is it located?
What is the modality?
What does it do?

Answer 18

Caudal medulla, but really cervical spinal cord (C-shaped white, lateral)
GSA
Sense of pain and temperature from face

Question 19

Inferior Olivary Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What does it do?

Answer 19

Caudal medulla (the worm)
Coordination of movement

Question 20

Nucleus Cuneatus:
Where is it located?
What does it do?

Answer 20

Caudal medulla

Sense of touch, vibration and proprioception from neck to T6

Question 21

Nucleus Gracilis:
Where is it located?
What does it do?

Answer 21

Caudal medulla

Sense of touch, vibration and proprioception below T7

Question 22

Red Nucleus:
Where is it located?
What does it do?

Answer 22

Rostral midbrain

Extrapyramidal motor coordination