Module 6 Flashcards
3 Bases of the Brainstem
- Midbrain - Cerebral Peduncle
- Pons - Basis Pontis
- Medulla - Pyramid and Olive
Anterior median fissure of the spinal cord continues on the
ventral medulla. On each side of this fissure are the __.
medullary pyramids
In the lower part of the medulla, the Corticospinal tracts partly cross to form the __. (Pyramidal Decussation)
Lateral Corticospinal Tract
- where rootlets of the hypoglossal nerve exit
- line between pyramid and olive
Lateral Sulcus
- Uppermost layer
- Shortest part of the brainstem, which contains the cranial nerves that stimulates the muscle for eye movement, lens shape and pupil diameter.
Midbrain
- Superior to the medulla and inferior to the midbrain in
location. Point of origin of nerves that transfer sensory information and motor impulses to and from the facial region and the brain. - Serves as a pathway for nerve fibers connecting the
cerebral cortex with the cerebellum
Pons
- last portion of the brains before the spinal cord
- Contains the nerve tracts of the Corticospinal and
Spinothalamic pathways. - Contains the autonomic center for regulating heart
rate, vasomotion, and respiratory rhythm
Medulla
Ventral Dorsal Organization (Brainstem)
- Tectum - roof; superior and inferior colliculus
- Tegmentum - floor; it forms the floor of the midbrain.
Nuclei of CN III and IV are located here - Basis- Base; 4th ventricle
Internal Structure of Medulla (Cross section at three levels)
- Level of pyramidal decussation
- Level of lemniscal decussation
- Level of inferior olivary nuclei
- is a column of cells dorsolateral or lateral to the hypoglossal nucleus and extending both rostrally and caudally a little beyond the hypoglossal nucleus.
- Axons in this column course ventrolaterally in the medulla, emerging from the lateral surface of the medulla between the inferior olive and inferior cerebellar peduncle.
- It also receives fibers from the vestibular nucleus thus excessive vestibular stimulation results in nausea, vomiting and change in heart rate.
dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus
- motor function of the Vagus nerve
Dorsal motor nucleus of Vagus nerve
- sensory nucleus for CN VII, IX, X
- clusters of nerve cell bodies forming a vertical column of grey matter embedded in the medulla oblongata.
- Lesion results in arterial blood pressure elevation.
Nucleus Tractus solitarius
- motor nucleus for CN IX, X and XI
- is also known as the ventral motor nucleus of the vagus
- It is a column of cells situated halfway between the inferior olive and the nucleus of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve. In addition to the vagus nerve, it also contributed efferent fibers to the glossopharyngeal and accessory nerves.
Nucleus Ambiguus
Pons (Landmarks and Cranial Nerves)
Landmarks: Basis pontis; 4th ventricle; Cerebellum and Middle Cerebellar Peduncle
Cranial nerves V, VI, VII, VIII
Internal Structure of the Pons: Cross section at three levels
- Level of facial nucleus (CN VII) - lower
- Level of middle cerebellar peduncle - middle
- Level of locus ceruleus - upper
Cranial Nerves of the Lower Pons
- CN VIII - pure sensory; lateral in location; for balance
- CN VI - abduction of the eye; longest and most vulnerable CN
- CN VII - muscles of the face; loop around CN VI
- is the pontine center for lateral gaze, it is a physiologically defined neuronal pool that is rostral to the abducens nucleus.
- It is composed of caudal and rostral part.
PPRF (paramedian pontine reticular formation)
Mid Pons
- Lateral lemniscus - associated with auditory pathway
- Medial lemniscus fibers - from dorsal column (position and vibration)
- Trigeminal tract - pain, temperature, touch from contralateral face
- Primary source of noradrenergic innervation to the brain
- Neurons contain melanin
Locus ceruleus
- Also release catecholamines
- Neurons also contain melanin
Parabrachial Nucleus
- Some neurons release acetylcholine
- Other neurons release glutamate
- They assist in learning and voluntary motor control, e.g. locomotion, saccadic eye
Pediculopontine Nucleus
Midbrain (Landmarks and Cranial Nerve)
Landmarks 1. Cerebral peduncles 2. Optic chiasm 3. Interpeduncular fossa (Superior colliculi) (Inferior colliculi) (Superior cerebellar peduncle)
Cranial Nerves III, IV
External Structure of Midbrain
- Optic chiasm
- Interpeduncular fossa
- Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
- Pons
- Cerebral peduncles (crus cerebri)
Cranial Nerves of the Midbrain (anterior and posterior exit)
Anterior exit; CN III, CN VI
Posterior exit - CN IV
- Melanin-containing cells that produce dopamine Project to the basal ganglia
Substantia nigra
– projects serotonergic fibers to basal ganglia and throughout cortex
Dorsal raphe nucleus
- analogous to dorsal root ganglion but within CNS
Mesencephalic nucleus of V
Upper Midbrain
Vision
Superior colliculus»_space; Lateral geniculate body
Hearing
Inferior colliculus»_space; Medial geniculate body
- relay from cortex and cerebellum to spinal cord, inferior olive, reticular formation, cerebellum
- Controls arm movement
Red nucleus
Lesion in the red nucleus the posturing will be __ because the rubrospinal tract takes over
decorticate
Lesion in the rubrospinal tract the posturing will be __ because the vestibulospinal tract rakes over
decerebrate
Blood supply to the midbrain
- Posterior Cerebral Artery (superior and lateral)
2. Basilar artery (entire medial)
Blood supply to the Middle pons
- Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (superolateral)
2. Basilar Artery (ventrolateral)
Blood supply to the Upper Medulla
- Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (superolateral)
- Vertebral Artery (dorsolateral portion)
- Anterior Spinal Artery (medial ventral portion)
Blood supply to the Caudal Medulla
- Posterior Spinal Artery (superior portion)
- Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (small lateral portion)
- Vertebral Artery (Tegmentum)
- Anterior Spinal Artery (ventromedial portion)
(Midbrain Syndrome)
- occlusion of paramedian branches of upper basilar and proximal posterior cerebral arteries
Medial midbrain syndrome
Medial midbrain syndrome (ON SIDE OF LESION)
- Eye “down and out” secondary to unopposed action of fourth and sixth cranial nerves,
- with dilated and unresponsive pupil: Third nerve fibers
Medial midbrain syndrome (ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF LESION)
Paralysis of face, arm, and leg: Corticobulbar and corticospinal tract descending in crus cerebri
(Midbrain Syndrome)
- syndrome of small penetrating arteries arising from posterior cerebral artery
Lateral midbrain syndrome
Lateral midbrain syndrome (On side of lesion)
Eye “down and out” secondary to unopposed action of fourth and sixth cranial nerves, with dilated and unresponsive pupil: Third nerve fibers and/or third nerve nucleus
Lateral midbrain syndrome (On side opposite lesion)
Hemiataxia, hyperkinesias, tremor: Red nucleus, dentatorubrothalamic pathway
Site: Base of midbrain
Cranial Nerves Involved: III
Tracts Involved: Corticospinal tract
Signs: Oculomotor palsy with crossed hemiplegia
Weber Syndrome
Site: Tegmentum of midbrain
Cranial Nerves Involved: III
Tracts Involved: Red nucleus and brachium conjunctivum
Signs: Oculomotor palsy with contralateral cerebellar ataxia and tremor
Claude Syndrome
Site: Tegmentum of midbrain
Cranial Nerves Involved: III
Tracts Involved: Red nucleus, corticospinal tract, and brachium conjunctivum
Signs: Oculomotor palsy with contralateral cerebellar ataxia, tremor and corticospinal signs
Benedikt Syndrome
Site: Tectum of midbrain
Cranial Nerves Involved: Unilateral or Bilateral III
Tracts Involved: Superior cerebellar peduncles
Signs: Ocular palsies, paralysis of gaze and cerebellar ataxia
Nothnagel syndrom
Site: Dorsal midbrain
Tracts Involved: Supranuclear mechanism for upward gaze and other structures in periaqueductal gray matter
Signs: paralysis of upward gaze and accommodation; fixed pupils
Parinaud syndrome
occlusion of paramedian branch of basilar artery
Medial inferior pontine syndrome
Medial inferior pontine syndrome (On side of lesion)
- Paralysis of conjugate gaze to side of lesion (preservation of convergence): Center for conjugate lateral gaze(PPRF)
- Nystagmus: Vestibular nucleus
- Ataxia of limbs and gait: Likely middle cerebellar peduncle
- Diplopia on lateral gaze: Abducens nerve
Medial inferior pontine syndrome (On side opposite of the lesion)
- Paralysis of face, arm, and leg: Corticobulbar and corticospinal tract in lower pons
- Impaired tactile and proprioceptive sense over one-half of the body: Medial lemniscus
occlusion of anterior inferior cerebellar artery
Lateral inferior pontine syndrome
Lateral inferior pontine syndrome (On side of lesion)
- Horizontal and vertical nystagmus, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, oscillopsia: Vestibular nerve or nucleus
- Facial paralysis: Seventh nerve
- Paralysis of conjugate gaze to side of lesion: Center for conjugate lateral gaze
- Deafness, tinnitus: Auditory nerve or cochlear nucleus
- Ataxia: Middle cerebellar peduncle and cerebellar hemisphere
- Impaired sensation over face: Descending tract and nucleus fifth nerve
Lateral inferior pontine syndrome (On side opposite lesion)
Impaired pain and thermal sense over one-half the body (may include face): Spinothalamic tract
occlusion of paramedian branch of midbasilar artery
Medial midpontine syndrome
Medial midpontine syndrome (On side of lesion)
Ataxia of limbs and gait (more prominent in bilateral involvement): Pontine nuclei
Medial midpontine syndrome (On side opposite lesion)
- Paralysis of face, arm, and leg: Corticobulbar and corticospinal tract
- Variable impaired touch and proprioception when lesion extends posteriorly: Medial lemniscus
occlusion of the short circumferential artery
Lateral midpontine syndrome
Lateral midpontine syndrome (On side of lesion)
- Ataxia of limbs: Middle cerebellar peduncle
- Paralysis of muscles of mastication: Motor fibers or nucleus of fifth nerve
- Impaired sensation over side of face: Sensory fibers or nucleus of fifth nerve
Lateral midpontine syndrome (On side opposite lesion)
Impaired pain and thermal sense on limbs and trunk: Spinothalamic tract
occlusion of the paramedian branches of upper basilar artery
Medial superior pontine syndrome
Medial superior pontine syndrome (On side of lesion)
- Cerebellar ataxia (probably): Superior and/or middle cerebellar peduncle
- Internuclear ophthalmoplegia: Medial longitudinal fasciculus
- Myoclonic syndrome, of palate, pharynx, vocal cords, respiratory apparatus, face, oculomotor apparatus, etc.: —central tegmental bundle.
Medial superior pontine syndrome (On side opposite lesion)
- Paralysis of face, arm, and leg: Corticobulbar and corticospinal tract
- Rarely touch, vibration, and position are affected(arm>leg): Medial lemniscus
syndrome of superior cerebellar artery
Lateral superior pontine syndrome