Exam 2 Flashcards
Organization of Spinal Cord Segments
- Dorsal horns-> gray matter; recieve and process somatosensory info
- Ventral horns–> grey matter; process and send somatic motor info
- T1-L2–> sympathetic preganglionic neurons
- S2-S4–> parasympathetic preganglionic neurons
- Tracts are found in consistent locations in the funiculi
-Surface bumps and ridges indicate cell groups or axon tracts
Colliculi
- Roof structures of the midbrain
- Cell group underneath surface
- 4–> organized into superior and inferior
- Superior–> recieve visual info and process it into visual reflexes
—–Tracking motions of eyes
-Inferior–> Auditory info relayed up to brainstem on route to medial geniculate nucleus
—–Auditory relexes such as turning to a noise
Cerebellum’s location in regard to the brainstem
- Roof structure over the pons and rostral medulla
- Important for unconcious coordination and planning and executing movements
SCP= superior cerebellar peduncles
MCP= middle cerebellar peduncles
ICP= inferior cerebellar peduncles
-Two areas= cerebellar cortex and deep gray
Ventricular Components of the Brainstem
-Midbrain= the cerebral aqueduct
—-Surrounded by the periaqueductal gray
——-Gray matter important for modulation of pain
-Pons/Medulla= 4th ventricle
The Tegmentum
- Grey and white matter in the central part of the brainstem
- Grey matter: Cranial nerve nuclei, the reticular formation, and “other” nuclei
- White matter: axon tracts and fibers of cranial nerves
Reticular Formation
-Diffuse groups of neurons, often vital centers
—Respiratory control
—Cardiovascular control
—Wakefulness and arousal
*Cell group in the brainstem
Specific Cell Groups:
—Substantia Nigra
—Raphe Nuclei
–Locus Ceruleus
Relay Nuclei
- Part of the longitudinal pathway
- Somatosensory system- gracile and cuneate nuclei
Red Nucleus
-Motor nucleus regulating upper limb flexor muscles
Inferior olivary nucleus
-Motor learning loop
Cranial Nerve Nuclei
- Sensory Nuclei- Processing and relaying incoming sensory info
- Motor Nuclei-Processing and sending motor information out of the CNS
*Some cranial nerves can carry both sensory and motor fibers, but these axons are associated with different cell groups!!
Brainstem Nuclei associated with cranial nerves
-Each cell group is related to a single function- somatic or autonomic motor, somatic, visceral, or special sensory
What does it mean by motor nucleus?
-Motor nucleus A
—-A cluster of somatic motor or branchial motor neuron cell bodies that send axons out through cranial nerve A to innervate skeletal muscles
-Motor nucleus B
—A cluster of autonomic parasympathetic preganglionic neuron cell bodies that send axons out through cranial nerve B toward smooth muscle, cardiac musvle, or cranial nerve target
Cortical control of a motor nucleus
- Brainstem motor nuclei often recieve compands from the contralateral cerebral cortex (premotor, primary motor areas
- Corticobulbar fibers of the cortical efferents
What do we mean by a sensory nucleus?
-All relay info to the cortex by communicating with another cell group in the CNS as a tract
**Sensory Nucleus A- A cluster of neuron cell bodies that recieves synpases from somatosensry neurons of cranial nerve A whose cell bodies lie in a ganglion outside the brainstem
**Sensory nucleus B- A cluster of neuron cell bodies that recieves synapses from VISCERAL sensory neurons of cranial nerve B whose cell bodies lie in a ganglion outside the brainstem
**Sensory nucleus C- A cluster of cell bodies that recieve synapses from SPECIAL SENSORY neurons of cranial nerve C carrying info from special sense organs
—-Cell bodies lie in a ganglion outside the brainstem
Dopaminergic Projections in the midbrain
- Arrise from 2 cell groups
1. Ventral tegmental nuclei
2. Substantia nigra
Substantia Nigra
- Distinct population of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral midbrain
- Project to the caudate and putamen of the basal ganglia
- Death of these cells–> Parkinsons
Serotonergic Projections
- In the Brainstem midline reticular formation
- Raphe Nuclei
Norepinephrine Projections
- From the pons and medulla oblongota
- Locus Coeruleus
Area Postrema
- Chemoreceptor trigger zone
- Sends noxious chemical stimuli to vomit center–> triggers vomit reflex
*Located in the reticular formation of the medulla
Circumventricular Organs of the Brain
- Where there is a focal breakdown in the blood brain barrier
- Some release hormones
—-Ex: Pineal gland, posterior pituitary
-Some contain chemosensitive celld mediating different homeostatic responses
—-Ex: area postrema
Solitary Nucleus
-Sensory nucleus recieving info from sensory axons of cranial nerves 7, 9, and 10
-Extends the length of the medulla
—Diff parts serve as centers for diff modalities
—–Taste, GI tract, Cardiovascular, Respiratory
Solitary Nucleus and Taste
- Rostral solitary nuc
- CN 7, 9, and 10 from taste buds–> responses of salivation and early digestive processes
——superior and inferior salivatory nucleus
The Solitary Nucleus and GI tract
- Caudal solitary nuc
- Feedback from GI tract via CN 10–> response of motor output to enteric NS regulating digestive processes
Solitary Nucleus and Cardiovascular
- One area in caudal solitary nuc
- Feedback from baroreceptors via CN 9 and 10–> sympathetics (T1-T2 preganglionic neurons) and parasympathetics (CN X) to heart up or down,
The Solitary Nucleus and Respiration
- One area of the caudal SN
- Feedback from chemoreceptors via CN 9,10 and brainstem chemoreceptor cells
- Response= turns sympathetics (T1-T2 pregang neurons) and parasympathetics (CN 10) of lungs up or down
Respiratory Centers
-Recieve input from many sources
—chemoreceptors, higher brain centers, etc
- Located in reticular formation
- Send axons to the spinal cord motor neurons controlling breathing movements
- Control diaphram (main muscle of respiration)
—Motor neurons of C3-C5
-SC injuries above C3–> damage to respiratory pathways, brainstem can no longer regulate breathing
Autonomic Pathways
- Descend from the hypothalamus
- Travel through the brainstem to influence many of the reticular system regulatory centers in addition to parasympathetic nuclei and symapthetic spinal neurons
*Brainstem damage= fatal
Brainstem Arousal System
- Part of the reticular system
- Damage leads to coma
- Stimulation–> wakefulness
- Resides in the lower midbrain/upper pons
—–Locus coeruleus (NE)
—–Raphe nuc= ser and dop
–ACh and Histamine
Cortical Efferent Component
-Created from long projection fibers of the cerebral cortex from layer 5
—Corona radiata, internal capsule, cerebral peduncles of midbrain, longitudinal fibers of the pons, pyramids of the medulla, corticospinal tract
****The fiber bundle decreases in size from midbrain to SC
Cranial Nerves 1 and 2
- Olfactory Nerve
- Optic Nerve
- Originate from cerebrum, NOT THE BRAINSTEM
Sensory Nuclei in the Brainstem
-Contain neurons that recieve synapses from CNs carrying sensory info:
—Somatosensory
—Special Sensory
—Visceral Sensory
Motor Nuclei of the Brainstem
-Contain neurons that send axons out through a cranial nerve to innervate some peripheral target
—Somatic and branchial motor
—Autonomic motor (parasympathetic)
Cranial Nerves III, IV, and VI
-3= oculomotor
—Somatic motor to 4 skeletal eye muscles and upper eyelid
—Autonomic motor to internal eye targets
- 4=Trochlear Nerve—> Somatic motor to one skeletal muscle of eye
- 6=Abducens Nerve–> Somatic motor to one skeletal muscle of the eye
Skeletal Muscles of the eye
- LR6, SO4, all of the rest are oculomotor
- Lateral rectus= 6
- Superior oblique= 4
- Superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, and inferior oblique= 3
Oculomotor Nucleus
-Contains cell bodies of somatic motor neurons innervating skeletal muscle targets of oculomotor nerve
—-Superior, inferior, and medial rectus muscles
—-Inferior oblique muscle
—-Skeletal muscle raising upper eyelid
-Originates in the upper midbrain
Edinger Westphal Nucleus
-Contains cell bodies of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons that innervate autonomic targets in eye (oculomotor nerve)
—Ex: smooth muscle for pupil constriction, ciliaris muscle
Two Functions of Parasympathetic Fibers of CN III
- Constriction of the pupil to limit light striking the retina
- Focusing the lens for near vision
The Pupillary Light Reflex
-Light info carried back from one eye through the optic nerve is carried to the midbrain and triggers and parasympathetic to contstrict the pupils of both eyes
—–Consensual
Cranial Nerve 4 and its nucleus
- Trochlear nerve
- Controls the superior oblique
—Turns eyes down and out to lateral side
*Originates from trochlear nucleus in lower midbrain
Cranial Nerve 6
- Abducens
- Controls the lateral rectus
—Turns eye laterally
-Originates from the abducens nucleus in the middle of the pons
Cranial Nerve V
- The trigeminal nerve
1. Motor to skeletal muscles controlling the jaw
2. Somatic sensation from face, dura, head, and jaw (touch, pain, proprioception) - Attaches to the rostral pons, but its axons connect to nuceli at all levels of the brainstem
The Trigeminal Motor Nucleus
-Cluster of motor neurons whose axons Innervate muscles of mastication (chewing)
Sensory Nuclei of the Trigeminal Nerve
- 3 separate sensory nuclei of the trigeminal nerve
1. Mesencephalic Nucleus
2. Principal Nucleus
3. Spinal Nucleus
The Mesencephalic Nucleus
- Lies in the midbrain
- Mediates jaw jerk reflexes
- Sensory neurons collecting feedback from muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs in jaw muscles
- Axons synapse on motor neurons in motor nuc of trigeminal
*Sensory-motor loop; monosynpatic jaw reflex
The Principal Nucleus
- Located in the rostral pons
- Recieves axons of somatosensory afferent neurons conveying touch and vibration info
The Spinal Nucleus
- Long column of neurons
- Recieving axons of somatosensory afferent neurons conveying pain and temp info
Cranial Nerve VII
- The Facial Nerve
1. Motor to skeletal muscles of the face (facial expression)
2. Special sensory taste fibers from front 2/3 of tongue
3. Parasympathetic preganglionic motor fibers to salivary glands and the tear glands
4. Small piece of somatosensory behind ear - Facial nucleus= motor to skeletal, muscles of facial expression
- Solitary nucleus= taste
- Superior salivatory nucleus= parasympathetic, salvation and lacrimation
- Trigeminal sensory nuclei= small number of sensory fibers of CN VII
The Facial Nucleus
- Located in the pons
- Motor nucleus
- Its axons innervates the skeletal muscles of the face; move the skin to alter facial expression
Effect of Damage to the right facial nerve
- Complete facial nerve paralysis on the patient’s right side
- Also would result in the loss of tears and salivation
Cranial Nerve VIII
- The Vestibulocochlear Nerve
- 2 types of special sensory fibers
- Formed from two separate structures of the inner ear
- Cochlea detects sound; cochlear nerve carries auditory info from cochlea to the brain
- Vistubular organ= vestibule and semicircular canals; detect balance; Vestibular nerve carries balance info to brain
*Cochlear and vestibular nerves bundled together to create vestibulocochlear nerve
Vestibulocochlear nerve at the brainstem
- Separates back into cochlear and vestibular nerve
- Cochlear portion synapses in cochlear nuclei of rostral medulla–> relays info to brainstem to inferior colliculus and on the medial geniculate nucleus and primary auditory cortex
- Vestibular nerve–> synpases in the vestibular nuclei of the caudal pons and cerebellum; mediates reflexes that adjust body and eye position in response to changes relative to gravity
Vestibular Schwannoma/ Cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor
- Vestibular portion of cranial nerve forms a schwann cell tumor btwn pons and cerebellum
- Compression from growth leads to balance and hearing problems
- Discovered when changes in facial expressions may be noticable
- Can also affect CN VII
Nucleus Ambiguus
- Motor nucleus in medulla
- Controls muscles of the throat (pharynx) and voicebox (larynx)
—Speech and swallowing
Cranial Nerve IX
- Glossopharyngeal nerve
1. Motor to one swallowing nerve (from nuc ambig)
2. Special sensory taste fibers from back 1/3 of the tongue (solitary nuc)
- Somatic sensory fibers in back of the tongue and throat (spinal trigeminal nuc)
- Visceral sensory fibers from baroreceptors (solitary nuc)
- Parasympathetic preganglionic motor fibers to salivary gland (from inferior salivatory nuc)
Cranial Nerve 10
- Vagus nerve
1. Motor to swallowing muscle and speech muscle (nuc ambig)
2. Somatic sensory fibers from throat (spinal trigeminal nucleus)
3. Visceral sensory fibers from baroreceptors and organs (solitary nuc)
4. Parasympathetic preganglionic motor fibers to glands, cardiac and smooth muscle in organs of neck, thorax, and abdomen (dorsal motor nuc of vagus)
5. Taste from area around epiglottis in back of throat (solitary nuc)
Cranial Nerve XI
- The accessory nerve
- Motor to two skeletal muscles of the neck and bacl
—Trapezius and sternocleoidomastoid
***Does NOT arise from brainstem
-Damage leads to weakness or paralysis of affected muscles
—Visible effects of right-sided XI paralysis
–Scalloping of the neck and drooping of the shoulder
Cranial Nerve XII
- the Hypoglossal Nerve
- Motor to the tongue
- Hypoglossal nucleus= long cell column in rostral medulla
— motor axons from hyp nuc control the skeletal muscle on the same side of the tongue
—–Contraction of these muscles bring tongue to midline
*Damage= causes tongue to deviate toward the weaker damaged side and will eventually lead to atropy on that side
Trigeminal ganglion
- Collection of sensory cell bodies just outside the pons in the middle cranial fossa
- Cells= pseudounipolar
- Collect info about somatosensation from face, oral cavity, nasal cavities, and orbit
Somatosensory targets inside the head
- Ophthalmic branch of V: skin of forehead and nose, eye, upper nasal cavity
- Maxillary branch of V: skin of cheek, upper lip and side of head; nasal cavity and upper teeth, palate
- Mandibular branch of V: skin of chin, lower lip and lateral head; floor of oral cavity and anterior tongue
- Glossopharyngeal: back of nasal and oral cavities, middle ear
- Vagus: lining of espophagus and airway below epiglottis
Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscus Pathway
- Fine touch, vibration sense, mechanosensation
- Receptors are associated with 1a, 1b, and Abeta sensory fibers
- Gracile fasiculus contains axons from lower body, cuneate fasiculus from upper body
- Medial lemniscus carries info to thalamus: VPL nuc
Thalamic Nuclear Groups
-Divided into functional groups, only some of which are identifiable in the lab
—anterior nuclear group
—Pulvinar
—MGN
—LGN
*All project to diff area of the cerebral cortex ipsilaterally
Gracile and Cuneate Nuclei
- Located in the lower half of the medulla; dorsal aspect adjacent to gracile and cuneate faciculi
- Gracile axons synapse on gracile nuc neurons
- Cuneate axons synapse on cuneate nuc neurons