CNS: Brainstem And Spinal Cord Flashcards
Parts of brain stem
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata
Functions of brain stem
Passageway for all fiber tracks bw cerebrum and spinal cord
Innervation of face and head
Automatic behaviors- respiration, alertness, heart contractility
Most inferior of brainstem continuous w/ spinal cord at level of Foramen magnum of occipital bone
Medulla
2 longitudinal ridges on anterior surface of medulla
Pyramids
In inferior regions of medulla
90% of fiber tracts decussate to opposite side resulting in each hemisphere controlling voluntary motor movement of contra lateral side of body
Cluster of nuclei in medulla
Reticular formation
Reticular formation contains
Cardiac center
Vasomotor center
Medullary respiratory center
Four pairs of cranial nerves in medulla
Vestibulocochlear nerve CNVIII
Glossopharyngeal nerve CNIX
Vagus nerve CNX
Hypoglossal nerve CNXII
Sensory nerve of hearing and equilibrium
Vestibulocochlear nerve CNVIII
Innervates tongue and pharynx, allows taste and tactile sensation of posterior tongue
Glossopharyngeal nerve CNIX
Innervates visceral organs in thorax and abdomen
Parasympathetic Innervation of organs in thorax and abdomen
Vagus nerve CNX
Innervates tongue muscles and responsible for motor movement of tongue
Hypoglossal nerve CNXII
Bulge wedged bw midbrain and medulla
Contains 3 cranial nerves which are
Pons
Trigeminal nerve CNV
Abducens nerve CN VI
Facial nerve CNVII
Innervates skin of face and muscles of mastication
Trigeminal nerve CNV
Innervates muscle moves eye laterally
Abducens nerve CNVI
Innervates muscles of facial expression
Facial nerve CNVII
Most superior part of brain stem bw diencephalon and pons
2 nerves are responsible for innervating eye muscles
Midbrain
Oculomotor nerve CNIII
Trochlear nerve CNIV
Spinal cord function
Sensory and motor innervation
Path for signals bw body and brain
Major center for reflexes
Where spinal cord located
Through vertebral canal of column from Foramen magnum of occipital bone
And ends at L1-L2 intervertebral disc
At end tapers into conus medullaris, filum terminale extends from conus meduallaris and attaches to coccyx inferiorly
Transmit sensory information
Dorsal nerve roots
Send motor signals
Ventral nerve roots
Cervical spinal nerves emerge
Above their corresponding vertebra (C1-C7)
From C8 downward
Rest of spinal nerves emerge below vertebra
Collection of lumbar and sacral nerve roots at inferior end of vertebral canal
Cauda equina
White matter divided into three funiculi
Dorsal
Ventral
Lateral funiculus
White matter fibers carry information form one side of spinal cord to other
Commissural fibers
Contains cell bodies of sensory neurons
Dorsal horn
Contains cell bodies of motor neurons
Ventral horn
Lateral projection of gray matter contains cell bodies of sympathetic neurons
Lateral horn