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Neuroanatomy > Medulla > Flashcards

Medulla Flashcards

1
Q

To localize a lesion, find the _____ cranial nerve sign/deficit. The lesion is ….

A

Highest

at that level and on that side

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2
Q

The medulla contains nuclei for 5 cranial nerves. Name them

A

12, 11, 10 (dorsal motor nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, nucleus ambiguous), 9, 8 (vestibular and cochlear)

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3
Q

The function of the medial longitudinal fasciculus is _____. It connects the _____, ______ nuclei, cranial nerves ___, ___, and ___ and the _____ spinal cord

A

Coordinates eye and head movements

Superior colliculus, vestibular nuclei, Cr 3, 4 and 6, cervical spinal cord

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4
Q

What is the function of the reticular formation?

A

It coordinates reflexes and simple stereotyped responses mediated by the cranial nerves

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5
Q

Some telltale signs that you are looking at a myelin section of the medulla are:

A
  • The pyramids and inferior olivary complex (mid medulla)
  • The pyramidal decussation (caudal medulla)
  • Inferior cerebellar peduncle (rostral medulla)
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6
Q

The spinal nucleus of trigem receives _____ info from the face. Axons run caudally from the pons in the _____, terminating in this nucleus. Second order axons cross to project to the ____ then project to the _____

A

Protopathic
spinal tract of trigem
reticular formation
VPM of the thalamus

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7
Q

The pyramidal decussation occurs in the _____. Consqeuently, the axons of the pyramidal tract are located ____ in the medulla

A

caudal medulla

Ventrally

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8
Q

Corticobulbar axons represent _______. They begin in the ____ and terminate on the _____

A

Descending control of the cranial nerves

Cortex, nuclei of cranial nerves

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9
Q

The gracile nucleus is ____ compared to the cuneate nucleus, which is more ____. Both are involved in ____ sensation

A

Caudal and medial
Rostral and lateral
Epicritic

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10
Q

Axons carrying epicritic sensation from the body cross in the ____ and are renamed the _____.

A

internal arcuate fibers

Medial lemniscus

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11
Q

A lesion to the anteriolateral tract in the medulla will also probably result in ___ and __ symptoms b/c of the proximity of these regions

A

Cerebellar and vestibular

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12
Q

The inferior cerebellar peduncle carries ____ information to the cerebellum from the ____ side of the body. A lesion here presents as…

A

Proprioceptive
Same
Ataxia, intention tremor

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13
Q

The medulla receives blood supply from the anterior spinal on the ______, the ______ on the dorsal aspect and the ______ on the dorsal lateral aspect.

A

Ventral medial
Posterior spinal arteries
PICAs

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14
Q

The inferior olivary nucleus serves as _____

A

A relay structure for the cerebellum

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15
Q

Cr XII exits the medulla ______. Each nerve innervates the ____ side of the tongue. Descending cortical control is provided by neurons on the ____ side. What does UMN pathology present as? LMN pathology?

A

Between the pyramid and the olive
Nerve innervates same side. Desc control from opposite side
UMN- tongue protrudes away from damage
LMN- tongue towards lesion; atrophy and fasciculations too

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16
Q

Axons from the nucleus ambiguous are _____ headed to ______. Unilateral damage presents as _____. Bilateral damage presents as ______

A

efferent nerves of Cr 9 and 10
the larynx and pharynx
Hoarseness, trouble swallowing, soft palate asymmetry
Choking, aspiration of fluid

17
Q

The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus houses cell bodies for ____ neurons which target ____

A

Pregang parasymp

Anything needing parasymp innervation north of the small intestines (heart, blood vessels, stomach, trachea)

18
Q

The nucleus of the solitary tract receives afferent information from _____ via ______. The rostral end receives special sensory information concerning ____ and the caudal end receives _____. The cells in the NTS connect to surrounding regions to mediate reflex responses involving cranial nerves, such as____

A 
the pharynx and larynx
Cr 7, 9, 10
Taste
Sensory info from chemo and baroreceptors
Gag, cough, vomiting, sneezing
19
Q

The vestibular nuclei reside in the ___, medial to the inferior cerebellar peduncle. These nuclei receive projections from ____ and project to other nuclei for ____ as well as to the cerebellum

A

Rostral medulla
Cr 8
Vestibular reflexes (i.e. eyes, body)

20
Q

The dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei are the beginning of the ___ pathway. Info is brought here by the ___

A

Auditory pathway

8th cranial nerve

21
Q

In the caudal medulla, the Cr. 12 nucleus is ____ to the DMX. As you move up the medulla, the DMX moves ____ and the nucleus of Cr 12 moves ____

A

Caudal medulla- Cr. 12 is ventral to DMX

As you move up, DMX moves dorsal and lateral. Cr. 12 moves dorsal

22
Q

The nucleus for Cr. 11 is where the _____ used to be in the in spinal cord, in the caudal medulla.

A

Ventral horn

23
Q

The nucleus of the solitary tract is ___ to the DMX

A

Lateral to

24
Q

Trigem contains epicritic, protopathic and proprioceptive info from the face. What nucleus do neurons carrying each type of info synapse at?

A

Epicritic- chief sensory nucleus
Protopathic- spinal nucleus
Proprioceptive- mesencephalic nucleus

25
Q

When looking at myelin sections, you know you’re in the rostral spinal cord when…

A
  • Lateral corticospinal tract is medial
  • You can begin to make out the spinal nucleus of 5 where the dorsal horn used to be
  • The gracile and cuneate fasciculi are still visible (and nuclei are not)
26
Q

What are some telltale signs of the caudal medulla on myelin sections?

A
  • Cr 11 nut where ventral horn used to be
  • Gracile and cuneate nuclei visible on dorsal aspect
  • Spinal nucleus and tract of 5 are visible
  • Decusation of the pyramids
27
Q

In the closed medulla, you can see (on myelin sections)…

A

The pyramids and inferior olivary complex
Epicritic neurons crossing to the contralateral medial lemniscus
The dorsospinalcerebellar tract merging with the inferior cerebellar peduncle
The solitary nucleus and tract

28
Q

Myelin sections of the open medulla show:

A
  • Cr 12 emerging b/wn the pyramid and the olive
  • The medial longitudinal fasciculus (ventral to the nuc of 12)
  • The accessory cuneate nucleus (lateral to the cuneate nucleus)
29
Q

In the rostral medulla, you can see (on myelin sections):

And what can’t you see?

A

-Cr. 8
-The inferior cerebellar peduncle
Can’t see DMX, NA, NTS

30
Q

What is the difference b/wn dysarthria and aphasia?

A

Dysarthria is a problem with innervation of the muscles for speech (potentially in Cr 5, 7, 10, 12, cerebellum) so you can’t form the words you want to make
Aphasia- impaired language function of the brain

31
Q

Spinal shock or stroke edema can cause…

A

An initial flaccid paralysis b/c neurons shut down. Wait a few days to see what’s really going on (i.e. UMN or LMN pathology)

32
Q

Ipsilateral hearing loss requires damage to ___ or ____

A

Cr 8 or the cochlear nuclei

33
Q

The corneal reflex is mediated by _____ (afferent) and _____ (efferent)

A

Cr 5 and Cr 7 (blinking)

34
Q

A cerebellar lesion can cause:

A

ataxia (i.e. problems with gait or eye movements- nystagmus), hypotonia, loss of coordination of speech

35
Q

The gag reflex is mediated by ____ (afferent) and _____ (efferent). It involves _____ (afferent) and _____ (efferent) nuclei.

A

Afferent- Cr. 9 to the NTS

Efferent- Cr 10 from the NA

36
Q

Both the vestibular system and the cerebellar system can cause…

A

nystagmus

Neuroanatomy (10 decks)

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