Medulla

Question 1

Medullary Pyramids

location

Answer 1

Rostral/Caudal Medulla

Question 2

Medullary Pyramids

function

Answer 2

• Paired white matter structures in ventral medulla that contain descending motor fibers of corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts – known together as the pyramidal tracts

Question 3

Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle

location

Answer 3

Rostral Medulla

Question 4

Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle

function

Answer 4

Afferent and efferent fibers between cerebellum and medulla

Question 5

Open Medulla

location

Answer 5

Rostral Medulla

Question 6

Open Medulla

function

Answer 6

Ventral wall of 4th ventricle

Question 7

Inferior Olivary Nuclei

location

Answer 7

Rostral/Caudal Medulla

Question 8

Inferior Olivary Nuclei

function

Answer 8

Accepts motor and sensory input from a multitude of sources and projects information about muscle and limb movement mainly through inferior cerebellar peduncle to contralateral cerebellar cortex

Question 9

Solitary Nuclei

location

Answer 9

Rostral/Caudal Medulla

Question 10

Solitary Nuclei

function

Answer 10

• Relay station for general visceral and taste afferents carried by cranial nerves 7, 9, and 10
• Has a critical role in initiation and integration of a wide variety of reflexes controlling cardiovascular function, respiration, and GI motility

Question 11

Nuclei Ambiguous

location

Answer 11

Rostral/Caudal Medulla

Question 12

Nuclei Ambiguous

function

Answer 12

Group of cell bodies of motor divisions of cranial nerve 9, 10, and 11 that go on to innervate ipsilateral muscles of the jaw and mouth and throat that are ultimately responsible for swallowing and speaking

Question 13

Area Postrema

location

Answer 13

Rostral Medulla

Question 14

Area Postrema

function

Answer 14

Brainstem circumventricular organ - Vomiting center

Question 15

Nuclei Gracilis

location

Answer 15

Rostral Medulla

Question 16

Nuclei Gracilis

function

Answer 16

• Gives rise to dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway
  – major ascending somatosensory pathway carrying discriminative touch, light touch, vibration, proprioception of muscles innervated by T6 spinal nerve roots and below (lower body)

Question 17

Nuclei Cuneatus

location

Answer 17

Rostral Medulla

Question 18

Nuclei Cuneatus

function

Answer 18

• Gives rise to dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway
  – major ascending somatosensory pathway carrying discriminative touch, light touch, vibration, proprioception of muscles innervated by T6 spinal nerve roots and above (upper body)

Question 19

Medial Lemniscus Decussation

location

Answer 19

Caudal Medulla

Question 20

Medial Lemniscus Decussation

function

Answer 20

Crossing of the medial lemniscal dorsal pathway, caring afferent somatosensory information from the body

Question 21

Pyramidal Decussation

location

Answer 21

Cervicomedullary Junction

Question 22

Pyramidal Decussation

function

Answer 22

Crossing of the pyramidal tracts, descending to provide motor drive to the body

Question 23

Vestibular Nuceli

location

Answer 23

Rostral Medulla

Question 24

Spinal Trigeminal

location

Answer 24

Rostral Medulla

Question 25

Vagus Motor Nuceli

location

Answer 25

Caudal Medulla

Question 26

Hypoglossal Nuceli

location

Answer 26

Caudal Medulla

Question 27

Spinal Accessory Nuceli

location

Answer 27

Cervicomedullary Junction