Brainstem Structure and Cranial Nerve Nuclei

Question 1

What are the three components of the brainstem

Answer 1

Midbrain, pons, medulla

Question 2

Think of the brainstem cross sections as split into three components

Answer 2

• The portion posterior to the ventricular space (only exists in the midbrain)
• The portion anterior to the ventricular space
• Additional structures on the anterior surface

Question 3

What is the reticular formation responsible for

Answer 3

• a diffuse nucleus in the core of the brainstem that performs integrative functions
• helps regulate consciousness and contains respiratory and cardiovascular centers

Question 4

the brainstem serves as a conduit for

Answer 4

ascending sensory and descending motor tracts.

Question 5

Corticospinal tract

Answer 5

voluntary movements of limbs

anterior in brainstem

Question 6

Spinothalmaic tract

Answer 6

transmits sensory information re: pain and temperature

Question 7

Posterior column / Medial lemniscus system

Answer 7

– transmits sensory information re:

touch, vibration, pressure and proprioception

Question 8

How does the brainstem relate to cranial nerve function

Answer 8

• Cell bodies of neurons clustered in “nuclei” throughout the brainstem serve as the origins of motor CNs or as the terminations of sensory CNs
• Nuclei are bilateral
• CN Nuclei are Arranged in Functional Columns

Question 9

Nervous system develops from

Answer 9

Neural tube

Question 10

Neural tube has two components

Answer 10

basal plate (motor) 
alar plate (sensory)

Question 11

What part of the neural tube is motor

Answer 11

basal plate

Question 12

what part of the neural tube is sensory

Answer 12

alar plate

Question 13

How is the brainstem development similar to spinal cord development

Answer 13

-it comes from the nueral tube. but instead of staying in same layout it opens up like a book so that basal plate (motor) stays more medial and alar plate (sensory) becomes more lateral

Question 14

Trick for brainstem layout

Answer 14

motor-medial

sensory-sides

Question 15

Which cranial nerves come from the midbrain

Answer 15

I-olfactory
II-optic
III-oculomotor
IV-trochlear

Question 16

Which cranial nerve is at the midpons level

Answer 16

V-trigeminal

Question 17

Which cranial nerves should you associate with the pons

Answer 17

V
VI
VII
VIII

Question 18

Which cranial nerves should you associate with the medulla

Answer 18

IX
X
XI
XII

Question 19

how are cranial nerve nuclei arranged

Answer 19

functional columns

Question 20

What brainstem nuclei are functionally somatic motor

Answer 20

oculomotor III
Trochlear IV
Abducens VI
Hypoglossal XII

Question 21

What brainstem nuclei are functionally Branchial motor

Answer 21

Motor nucleus of V
Facial nucleus VII
Nucleus ambiguus IX
Spinal Accessory nucleus (Located in spinal cord) X

Question 22

What brainstem nuclei are functionally Visceral Motor

Answer 22

Edinger-Westphal III
Salivatory VII
Inferior Salivatory IX
Dorsal motor nucleus of X

Question 23

What brainstem nuclei are visceral sensory

Answer 23

Rostral Nucleus solitarius (gustatory nucleus) VII, IX and X

Caudal nucleus solitarius (cardiorespiratory nucleus) IX and X

Question 24

What brainstem nuclei are Somatic Sensory

Answer 24

Trigeminal nuclei V, VII, IX and X

Question 25

What brainstem nuclei are Special Sensory

Answer 25

Cochlear nucleus VIII Vestibular nuclei VIII

Question 26

What is the hole in the center of the midbrain

Answer 26

cerebral aqueduct

Question 27

posterior to cerebral aqueduct in midbrain

Answer 27

tectum

Question 28

anterior to cerebral aqueduct in midbrain

Answer 28

tegmentum

Question 29

Additional structures on the anterior of the midbrain

Answer 29

Cerebral peduncle

Question 30

region around the cerebral aqueduct

Answer 30

periaqueductal gray matter

Question 31

tectum in rostral medulla

Answer 31

superior colliculus

Question 32

tectum in caudal midbrain

Answer 32

inferior colliculus

Question 33

What supplies the medial aspect of the medulla

Answer 33

anterior spinal artery

Question 34

What supplies the lateral aspect of the medulla

Answer 34

vertebral and PICA

Question 35

other than the vertebral artery what supplies the lateral part of the caudal medulla (especially in the more posterior region of the caudal medulla)

Answer 35

Posterior spinal artery

Question 36

What supplies the medial aspect of the pons

Answer 36

basilar

Question 37

what supplies the posterior/lateral aspect of the caudal pons

Answer 37

AICA

Question 38

What supplies medial caudal medulla

Answer 38

basilar artery superior cerebellar artery

Question 39

What supplies the caudal medulla wrapping from posterior medial around laterally

Answer 39

PCA Superior cerebellar

Question 40

What supplies the rostral medulla anteriorly

Answer 40

PCA Posterior communicating

Question 41

What supplies the rostral medulla in the center

Answer 41

PCA

Question 42

what supplies the rostral medulla posteriorly

Answer 42

PCA and Superior Cerebellar

Question 43

Blood vessels in the region of the midbrain:

Answer 43

Basilar a.  Superior cerebellar a.  Posterior cerebral a.  Posterior communicating a.

Question 44

Blood vessels in the region of the pons:

Answer 44

Basilar a.  AICA  Superior cerebellar a.

Question 45

Blood vessels in the region of the medulla:

Answer 45

Vertebral a.  PICA  Anterior spinal a. (medial)  Posterior spinal a. (lateral)

Question 46

Weber's syndrome

Answer 46

PCA, Midbrain, cerebral peduncle

Question 47

Medial Pontine syndrome

Answer 47

Basilar artery, Medial pons

Question 48

Lateral pontine syndrome

Answer 48

Superior Cerebellar artery (rostral) or AICA (caudal), Lateral pons

Question 49

Medial medullary syndrome

Answer 49

vertebral artery or anterior spinal artery, medial medulla

Question 50

Lateral medullary syndrome

Answer 50

vertebral artery or PICA, lateral medulla