Brainstem Region

Question 1

What 3 vertical tracts travel through the brainstem?

Answer 1

Sensory, autonomic, and motor

Question 2

What are the 2 longitudinal sections of the brainstem?

Answer 2

basilar and tegmentum

Question 3

Midbrain has an additional longitudinal section, posterior to the tegmentum, called what?

Answer 3

the tectum

Question 4

The tectum includes structures involved in what?

Answer 4

reflexive control of intrinsic and extrinsic eye muscles and in movements of the head

Question 5

The basilar is located ____ and contains mostly ____ system structures.

Answer 5

anteriorly

motor

Question 6

List the structures running through the basilar part of the brainstem

Answer 6

• Descending axons from the cerebral cortex (corticospinal, corticobulbar, corticopontine, corticoreticular tracts)
• Motor nuclei (substantia nigra, pontine nuclei, inferior olive)
• Pontocerebellar axons

Question 7

The tegmentum is located ____

Answer 7

posteriorlyy

Question 8

List the structures located in the tegmentum part of the brainstem

Answer 8

• The reticular formation
• Sensory nuclei and ascending sensory tracts
• Cranial nerve nuclei
• The medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF)

Question 9

What 3 things does the reticular formation do?

Answer 9

• Integrates sensory and cortical information
• Regulates somatic motor activity, autonomic function, and consciousness
• Modulates nociceptive (pain) information

Question 10

What are the 4 major reticular nuclei?

Answer 10

• Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
• Pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN)
• Raphe nuclei
• Locus ceruleus and medial reticular area

Question 11

The ventral tegmentum produces what NT?

Answer 11

dopamine

Question 12

Activation of the ventral tegmental area affects what? What does this produce

Answer 12

the ventral striatum, which produces feelings of pleasure and reward

Question 13

The pedunculopontine nucleus produces what NT?

Answer 13

ACh

Question 14

Where do ascending axons from the PPN project to?

Answer 14

the inferior part of the frontal cerebral cortex and intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus

Question 15

The PPN influences movement via what 3 connections?

Answer 15

• Globus pallidus and subthalamic nucleus
• Limbic system
• Reticular areas that give rise to reticulospinal tracts

Question 16

The raphe nuclei produce what NT?

Answer 16

Serotonin

Question 17

Where do the raphe nuclei supply serotonin to?

Answer 17

the cerebral cortex, thalamus, tectum, cerebellum and spinal cord

Question 18

What NT does the locus ceruleus and medial reticular area produce?

Answer 18

Norepinephrine

Question 19

What do the ascending axons of from the locus ceruleus provide?

Answer 19

The ability to direct attention

Question 20

What do the descending axons of from the locus ceruleus form?

Answer 20

the ceruleospinal tract as part of non-specific UMNs

Question 21

What does the medial reticular zone regulate?

Answer 21

autonomic functions (cardiovascular, respiratory and visceral)

Question 22

What are the main effects of dopamine?

Answer 22

• pleasure seeking
• motor control (movement)
• hunger

Question 23

What are the main effects of serotonin?

Answer 23

• impulsivity
• moral decision making
• obsessive-compulsive

Question 24

What are the main effects of norepinephrine?

Answer 24

sympathetic stimulation (fight or flight)

Question 25

Define Consciousness

Answer 25

awareness of self and surroundings

Question 26

What does the consciousness system govern?

Answer 26

alertness, sleep, and attention

Question 27

What are the brainstem components of the consciousness system?

Answer 27

The reticular formation and its ascending reticular activating system

Question 28

What are the 2 vertical bulges on the medulla called?

Answer 28

pyramids

Question 29

What are the 2 small, oval lumps lateral to the pyramids called?

Answer 29

olives

Question 30

Which cranial nerve connects with the medulla between the pyramid and the olive?

Answer 30

XII

Question 31

What axons form the pyramids in the lower medulla?

Answer 31

the descending axons of the corticospinal tract

Question 32

In the upper medulla the tracts that are located in the rostral part of the medullar are in approximately the same positions except for which one?

Answer 32

The medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) which is located more posteriorly

Question 33

Most CN nuclei in the rostral medulla are clustered in the ____ section

Answer 33

dorsal

Question 34

What are the 3 functions of the medulla?

Answer 34

- Controlling head movements - Coordinating swallowing - Helping regulate cardiovascular, respiratory, and visceral activity

Question 35

What are the only 2 tracts that synapse in the pons?

Answer 35

- conticopontine | - some corticobrainstem

Question 36

The pons process motor information from where? Where does it forward information to?

Answer 36

from the cerebral cortex and forwards the information to the cerebellum

Question 37

Pontine CN nuclei control contraction of muscles involved in what? What are the associated cranial nerves?

Answer 37

- Facial expression (cranial nerve VII) - Lateral movement of the eye (cranial nerve VI) - Chewing (cranial nerve V)

Question 38

The midbrain connects the pons to what structure?

Answer 38

the diencephalon

Question 39

What are the 3 regions of the midbrain from anterior to posterior?

Answer 39

- Basis pedunculi - Tegmentum - Tectum

Question 40

What structure is formed by the cerebral peduncles and the substantia nigra?

Answer 40

Midbrain Basis Pedunculi

Question 41

What does the midbrain tegmentum contain?

Answer 41

- sensory tracts - superior cerebellar peduncle - red nucleus - PPN - the nuclei of cranial nerves III and IV

Question 42

What does the midbrain tectum contain?

Answer 42

- the pretectal area | - the colliculi

Question 43

What reflexes is the pretectal area involved in?

Answer 43

The pupillary, consensual, and accommodation reflexes of the eye.

Question 44

What do the inferior colliculi do?

Answer 44

relay auditory information from the cochlear nuclei to the superior colliculus and to the medial geniculate body of the thalamus

Question 45

What are the superior colliculi involved in?

Answer 45

reflexive eye and head movements

Question 46

The function of which brain structure is completely dependent on input and output connections with the brainstem?

Answer 46

Cerebellum

Question 47

What are the 3 cerebellar functions?

Answer 47

- Coordination of movement - Motor planning - Cognitive functions, including rapid shifts of attention