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