brainstem summary - essentials of the human brain book - julia

Question 1

caudal medulla - nucelus gracilis

Answer 1

second order somatosensory neurons whose axons cross at this level to form the leg portion of the medial lemniscus

Question 2

caudal medulla - fasciculus cuneatus

Answer 2

uncrossed branches of primary afferents, carrying tactile and proprioceptive info from the arm

Question 3

caudal medulla - nucleus cuneatus

Answer 3

second-order somatosensory neurons whose axons cross at this level to form the arm portion of the medial lemniscus

Question 4

caudal medulla - nucleus of the solitary tract

Answer 4

surrounds the solitary tract
like a posterior column system for info from viscera and taste buds
central branches of afferents from CNs VII, IX, and X trave through the tract to reach the nucleus
only info from the viscera reaches this level

Question 5

caudal medulla - dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus

Answer 5

preganglionic parasympathetic neurons for throracic and abdominal viscera

Question 6

caudal medulla - spinal trigeminal tract

Answer 6

primary afferents from teh ipsilateral side of the face

at this level, convey info about temp and pain