L04 - Brainstem Flashcards
What are the boundaries of the brainstem (anterior and posterior)
Anterior = Optic tract (sup.), C1 spinal nerve (inf.)
Posterior = Superior colliculus (sup.), C1 spinal nerve (inf.)
3 major functions of the brainstem.
1) Passed through by all ascending, descending pathways
2) Where nuclei of most cranial nerve are located (e.g. 5 senses, facial expression)
3) Where many important life centers (reticular formation) are located, e.g. heartbeat, breath, blood pressure, ascending activating system, blood pH
What are the main regions of the brainstem
Diencephalon
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata
List some major external structures of Diencephalon.
Thalamus
Lateral and Medial geniculate body
Pineal gland Optic tract
Mammillary body
List some major external structures of Midbrain.
Superior colliculi + Inferior colliculi = Corpora quadrigemina
Superior and inferior cerebral peduncle
Trochlear nerve
Oculomotor nerve
Interpenducular sulcus
List some major external structures of Pons.
Superior, middle and inferior cerebellar peduncle
Medial eminence
Rhomboid fossa of 4th ventricle
Hypoglossal and Facial trigone
CN V, VII, VIII
Basilar sulcus (ant.) Median sulcus, Stria medullares, Sulcus limitans (post.)
List some major external structures of Medulla oblongata
Olive Pyramid (+ decussation of pyramid at inf. border)
Cuneate fasciculus
Gracile fasciculus
CN IX, X, XI, XII
Anterior median fissure
Posterior median fissure
List all the cranial nerves found in midbrain.
CN 2-4
Optic tract
Oculomotor nerve
Trochlear nerve
List all the cranial nerves found in Pons
CN 5 - 8
Trigeminal nerve
Facial nerve
Abducens nerve
Vestibulocochlear nerve
List all the cranial nerves found in Medulla oblongata
CN9 - 12
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Vagus nerve
Accesory nerve
Hypoglossal nerve
Which cranial nerve separates midbrain and pons.
Oculomotor nerve
Which cranial nerves separate pons and medulla oblongata?
CN VI, VII, VIII
What pathways go through the medulla oblongata?
Dorsal: Dorsal - Medial Lemniscus tract (ascending sensory)
Ventral: Corticospinal tract (descending motor)
Middle: Reticular formation
List the internal structures found at the inferior medulla oblongata.
Dorsal:
- Nucleus Gracilis (lower limb sensory) + fasciculus
- Nucleus Cuneatus (upper limb sensory) + fasciculus
- Nucleus of Trigeminal nerve
- Internal arcuate fibers (decussation for Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscal pathway)
Ventral:
- Anterior gray column
- Medullary pyramids + pyramidal decussation
List the internal structures found at the middle medulla oblongata.
Dorsal:
- Nucleus Gracilis. Nucleus Cuneatus
- Nucleus of trigeminal nerve
- Nucleus of Hypoglossal nerve
Ventral:
- Inferior olivary nucleus (hearing)
- Medial meniscus (relay mechanical sensory info from nucleus gracilis and cuneatus to thalamus)
- Corticospinal tract
List the internal structures found at the superior medulla oblongata.
Dorsal:
- Vestibular nucleus
- Vagus nucleus
- Trigeminal nerve
- Ambiguus nucleus (IX, X, XI)
- Inferior cerebellar peduncle
- Reticular formation (moved from middle to post)
- Spinothalamic tract (lateral)
Ventral:
- Medial lemniscus (Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscal pathway)
- Corticospinal tract
- Inferior olivary nucleus
List the internal structures found at inferior pons.
Dorsal:
- Abducens nucleus - Facial nerve
- Middle cerebellar peduncle
- Reticular formation
- Medial lemniscus (DMLT)
Ventral:
- Corticospinal tract
- Pontine nucleus >> pontocerebellar fibers >> Middle cerebellar peduncle