Lab 3 Neuroanatomy Flashcards
the three parts of the brainstem
midbrain
pons
medulla
brainstem
The brainstem connects the spinal cord to the cerebrum. Some of the cranial nerves (covered in this week’s lab) arise from the brainstem and many important nuclei associated with the motor and sensory pathways are located within the brainstem.
Most rostral part of brainstem
midbrain
most caudal part of the brainstem
medulla
Midbrain consisting mainly of
the cerebral peduncles
pons characterised by
the transverse cerebellopontine fibres
medulla containing
cranial nerve nuclei
How are the cerebral peduncles and optic tracts related to each other on the lateral surface of the brainstem?
The optic tracts wrap around the cerebral peduncles laterally, i.e. they travel from an anterior position to a posterolateral position where they enter the thalamus.
Medulla regions
open and closed
open medulla
Open medulla is at the level of the fourth ventricle
closed medulla
closed medulla is the portion below the fourth ventricle.
ventral =
anterior
dorsal =
posterior
rostral =
superior
caudal =
inferior
structures you can locate on the medulla
pyramids
olives
trigeminal fasiculus
pyramids location
medulla
The pyramids, paired ridges on either side of the midline.
olives location
medulla
The olives, more rounded bulges of the inferior olivary nucleus, lying lateral to
the pyramids
trigeminal fasiculus location
medulla
The trigeminal fasciculus and nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, lying lateral to
the olive, and inferior to the cuneate tubercle.
What type of fibres, motor or sensory, are found in the pyramids?
Pyramids are anterior, and therefore contain motor fibres
part of the corticospinal tract, the pyramids are the point of crossing over for this tract
at what level of the medulla are the olives found?
open medulla
which cranial nerve emerges from the medulla between the pyramid and olive?
hypoglossal nerve which is nerve number twelve
With which spinal cord structures are the gracile and cuneate tubercles continuous?
Gracile and Cuneate fasciculi/tracts – tubercles contain nuclei for the tracts
closed medulla
Cerebellum has two
hemispheres