CH 10: Organization of the brainstem and CNs Flashcards
what is the medulla?
the most caudal part of the brainstem
extends rostrally for 2.5 cm to the caudal border of the pons
the central canal of the SC continues through the ____ and flares open into the ____?
through the caudal half of the medulla
at a point called the obey, flares open into the wide cavity of the 4th ventricle
the rostral part of the medulla occupies the?
floor of the 4th ventricle
the roof of the 4th ventricle consists of the ?
tela choroidea
the choroid plexus
cerebellum
what is the tela choroidea?
a thin sheet of apposed ependyma and pia mater
what is the choroid plexus
tela choroidea with good vessels between the ependyma and pia
what can be seen from the anterior aspect of the medulla?
the pyramids
what are they pyramids?
formed by the pyramidal (corticospinal and corticobulbar) tracts
forms 2 longitudinal ridges on either side of the ventral median fissure
the decussation of the pyramids can be seen as bundles of fibers crossing and obliterating the fissure at the extreme caudal end of the medulla
what can be seen from the lateral aspect of the medulla?
the ventrolateral sulcus
dorsolateral sulcus
olive
what is the ventrolateral sulcus?
what exits from this groove?
extends along the lateral border of the pyramid
the rootlets of the hypoglossal nerve (12) exit
what exits from the dorsolateral sulcus?
cranial portion of the accessory nerve (9)
vagus nerve (10)
glossopharyngeal nerve (11)
how does the accessory nerve exit?
the cranial portion exits through the dorsolateral sulcus
the spinal portion originates in the gray matter of C2-5. its rootlets exit through the lateral funiculus of the cord, join, and then ascend along the lateral surface of the medulla
what is the olive?
the prominent oval swelling of the lateral area of the medulla between the ventrolateral and dorsolateral sulci
marks the site of the inferior olivary nuclear complex inside the medulla
what can be seen from the posterior aspect of the medulla?
fasciculus gracilis
fasciculus cuneatus
what marks the termination of the FC and FG?
FC= cuneate tubercle
FG= clava
the axons of neurons in the nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus extend ventrally into the?
tegmentum (floor) of the medulla
thus, at the rostral end of these nuclei, the dorsal area “opens up” exposing the floor of the fourth ventricle rostral to the obex
what are the 2 pairs of swellings seen in the floor of the 4th ventricle?
vagal trigone
hypoglossal trigone
what is the vagal trigone?
lateral ridge in the floor of the 4th ventricle
bulge indicates the location of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus
what is the hypoglossal trigone?
medial ridge of the floor of the 4th ventricle
bulge indicates the location of the hypoglossal nucleus
what is the striae medullares of the 4th ventricle?
what do these fibers mark laterally?
ridges formed by fibers passing toward the cerebellum
laterally, these fibers mark the location of the lateral recesses
what is the lateral recess?
where opening in the 4th ventricle (foramina of Luschka) allow CSF to flow from the 4th ventricle into the subarachnoid space
how does CSF leave the 4th ventricle?
lateral recesses
foramen of Magendie- a single, midline opening at the Obex
what is the pons?
a large tissue mass rostral to the medulla
on the ventral surface of the brainstem, the cerebral peduncles pass into the pons from above, and the pyramids emerge from below
what can be seen on the anterior aspect of the pons?
a band of thick transverse fibers- constitute the pons proper or the “bridge”- occupies the entire anterior aspect
the basal sulcus-
what is the basal sulcus?
what coincides with it ?
shallow furrow extends along the midline and coincides with the course of the basilar artery
what CN exits from the inferior pontine sulcus?
the abducens nerve (6) at the caudal border of the pons close to the pyramids
what can be seen from the lateral aspect of the pons?
middle cerebellar peducles (brachia pontis)
what is the middle cerebellar peduncle?
transverse fibers of the pons converge to form compact lateral bundles that attach the pons to the overlying cerebellum
what does the cerebellopontine angle consist of?
the triangular space formed between the caudal border of the middle cerebellar peduncle, the adjoining part of the cerebellum and the upper part of the medulla
what CNs emerges from the cerebellopontine angle?
facial (7)
vestibulocochlear (8)
where does the trigeminal nerve (5) emerge?
penetrates the brachium pontis near the middle of the lateral surface of the pons
what can be seen on the posterior aspect of the pons?
forms the rostral part of the floor of the 4th ventricle
at its widest point, this triangular area contains the pontomedullary junction and the lateral recesses of the ventricle.
the facial colliculus superior cerebellar peduncles
anterior medullary velum
what is the facial colliculus and what forms it?
lies rostral to the lateral recess in the floor of the 4th ventricle.
the abducens nucleus and the fibers of the facial nerve that cross over the nucleus of abducens form this colliculus (little hill)
what do the superior cerebellar peduncles form?
what joins it to form the roof of the ventricle?
forms the walls of the 4th ventricle at this level
the cerebellar vermis in the caudal pons and the anterior medullary velum rostrally join these peduncles in the midline and complete the roof
what does the midbrain consist of?
a short segment of brain stem between the pons and the diencephalon
what is the cerebral aqueduct?
a markedly narrow tubular passage connecting the 3rd and 4th ventricles