Differences - Caudal vs. Rostral

Question 1

Caudal vs. Rostral Medulla?

Answer 1

1) **Rostral – INFERIOR OLIVARY NUCLEUS (olive!!)
2) Rostral – cochlear & vestibular nuclei
3) **Rostral– INFERIOR CEREBELLAR PEDUNCLE (ICP)
4) Rostral– Hypoglossal fibers coming out of the hypoglossal nucleus & out the medulla
5) *Caudal – Nuclei gracilis & cuneatus (+ fasciculus cuneatus)
6) *Central canal -> fourth ventricle (caudal -> rostral)

Question 2

Caudal vs. Rostral Pons?

Answer 2

1) Caudal – deep cerebellar nuclei (dentate, interposed, fastigial nuclei)
2) Caudal – vestibular nuclei
3) Caudal – spinal trigeminal tract & nucleus
4) Caudal – spinothalamic pathway
5) **Caudal – ABDUCENS nucleus surrounded by facial fibers + facial motor nucleus
6) *Caudal – middle cerebellar peduncle
7) Caudal – superior olivary nucleus
8) *Caudal – trapezoid body
9) **Rostral – LATERAL lemniscus
10) Rostral – locus ceruleus
11) Rostral – anterolateral pathway
12) *Rostral – periventricular gray
13) Rostral – can distinguish corticospinal & corticobulbar fibers from corticopontine fibers (in caudal they’re all together in “blobs”)

Question 3

Caudal vs. Rostral Midbrain?

Answer 3

1) **Large Colliculi – INFERIOR (Caudal) vs. SUPERIOR (Rostral)
2) **Caudal – LATERAL lemniscus (“golf ball on a tee”)
3) Caudal – trochlear nucleus
4) Caudal – raphe nuclei
5) *Caudal – decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncles
6) **Caudal – last few PONTINE NUCLEI
7) Rostral – brachium of the inferior colliculus
8) Rostral – oculomotor nucleus (including Edinger-Westphal nucleus) + fibers
9) **Rostral – SUBSTANTIA NIGRA
10) **Rostral – RED NUCLEUS
11) *Rostral – ventral tegmental area