Introduction to the Brainstem Flashcards
Mesencephalon
Midbrain
Metencephalon
Pons
Myelencephalon
Medulla
What are the 4 main components of the brain stem?
- Cranial nerve nuclei and related structures
- Long tracts
- Cerebellar circuitry
- Reticular formation and related structures
What are the 3 main divisions of the brainstem?
Midbrain, pons, and medulla
What does the tegmentum do?
Forms a thick covering over the bases of the cerebral penduncles, basal pons, and pyramids
What important structures are contained within the tegmentum?
- Reticular formation
- Cranial nerve nuclei
- Most ascending and descending tracts
What is the only cranial nerve that comes off posterior side of the brainstem?
Trochlear
What are 2 examples of sensory long tracts?
- Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway
2. Anterolateral pathway
What sensory info does the Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway provide?
Tactile proprioception
What sensory info does the Anterolateral pathway provide?
Pain, temperature, crude touch
What is an example of a motor long tract?
Corticospinal pathway (Pyramidal tract)
What sensory info does the Spinothalamic tract provide?
Pain and temperature from head
What sensory info does the Medial lemniscus pathway provide?
Tactile and proprioceptive info from head
What sensory info does the Dorsal trigeminal tract provide?
Sensory info from the oral cavity
Describe the Inferior Olivary Nucleus.
Start of climbing fibers; aids cerebellum in coordination of movement
Pontine nuclei give rise to axons that travel into the cerebellum via the what?
Middle cerebellar peduncle
Input to the cerebellum from the inferior olivary nuclei and spinal cord travel through what?
Inferior cerebellar peduncle
Output from the cerebellum travels in the what?
Superior cerebellar peduncles
What is the function of the Edinger-Westphal nuclei?
Visceromotor via occulomotor nerve to pupillary sphincter and ciliary muscle