Neuro: Organization of the Brainstem

Question 1

nuclei that are located on the far dorsolateral surface of the medulla and pons

Answer 1

cochlear and vestibular nuclei

Question 2

lesions affecting the lateral brainstem (such as a stroke in a long circumferential artery) usually affect which nuclei? what sort of problems could this create?

Answer 2

the branchiomotor (SVE) nuclei as well as preganglionic parasympathetic cell bodies that supply the heart; could result in difficulty swallowing, talking, and difficulty controlling heart rate

Question 3

the part of the brainstem that contains the main sensory nucleus of V - 2nd order neurons that receive discriminative touch information from the face, ear, tongue, nasal and oral cavities

Answer 3

pons

Question 4

the only SSA nerve - detects hearing and position of head

Answer 4

CN VIII

Question 4

which cranial nerve is formed from rootlets emerging from the medulla and running down alongside the spinal cord?

Answer 4

CN XI

Question 4

lesions affecting the dorsolateral pons and medulla (ie, a stroke in the PICA or AICA) usually affect which pools of neurons? what symptoms would this lead to?

Answer 4

GSA and SSA neurons; would lead to sensory loss on the contralateral face, ear, tongue, nose and mouth, as well as dminished sense of hearing

Question 5

dopamine-producing neurons involved in the basal ganglia system

Answer 5

substantia nigra

Question 6

nucleus that gives rise to the branchiomotor (SVE) nerve fibers, as well as the preganglionic cell bodies that deliver parasympathetic stimulation to the heart

Answer 6

nucleus ambiguus

Question 8

nerves that innervate the head and neck muscles derived from the branchial arches; CNs V3, VII, IX, X and XI

Answer 8

special visceral efferent (SVE) or branchiomotor nerves

Question 10

classification of nerves that innervate most of the skeletal muscle; CNs III, IV, VI (all ocular motility) and XII (tongue motility)

Answer 10

general somatic efferent (GSE)

Question 10

muscles derived from arch 2

Answer 10

muscles of facial expression

Question 11

All CN X preganglionic parasympathetic neurons originate in the dorsal motor nucleus of X except for the neurons that supply what muscle?

Answer 11

cardiac muscle

Question 11

more dorsal lesions tend to produce CN signs with contralateral body ____ loss, while ventral lesions tend to produce CN signs with contralateral body ____ loss.

Answer 11

sensory; motor

Question 13

paramedian artery infarcts are likely to impair what pool of neurons? name the cranial nerves that would be implicated at each level of the brainstem.

Answer 13

GSE; medulla - hypoglossus (XII) pons - abducens (VI) midbrain - trochlear (IV), oculomotor (III)]

Question 14

receives all GVA and SVA terminations from CN VII, IX and X

Answer 14

nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS)

Question 15

muscles derived from arch 1

Answer 15

muscles of mastication

Question 16

classification of nerves that transmit sensory information from organs including visceral nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and specialized receptor structures (ie, carotid bodies); CNs IX and X

Answer 16

general visceral afferent (GVA)

Question 17

which cranial nerves are classified as special visceral efferent (SVE)?

Answer 17

CN V3, VII, IX, X, XI

Question 19

the type of innervation that refers to the chemical sensation of taste; CNs VII, IX and X

Answer 19

special visceral afferent (SVA)

Question 20

classification of nerves that transmit pain, temperature, touch and proprioception from the skin and deep tissues (muscles, joints); CN V3 and to a lesser extent VII, IX, X

Answer 20

general somatic afferent (GSA)

Question 20

the part of the brainstem that contains the mesencephalic nucleus - 1st order neurons that didn’t migrate, and convey proprioceptive information (mainly from the jaw joint)

Answer 20

midbrain

Question 21

classification of nerves that transmit autonomic signals (parasympathetic/sympathetic pre and post-ganglionic neurons; CNs III, VII, IX and X)

Answer 21

general visceral efferent (GVE)

Question 22

cranial nerve that carries branchiomotor (SVE) fibers while all of its sensory is GSA

Answer 22

CN V3

Question 24

The _____ part of the NTS receives sensory information (GVA) from thoracic and abdominal viscera via CN X. The ______ part of the NTS receives special sensory information (SVA) from taste buds via VII, IX and X

Answer 24

caudal; rostral

Question 25

CSF drains through this structure in the midbrain to enter the 4th ventricle in the pons

Answer 25

cerebral aqueduct (of Sylvian)

Question 26

the part of the brainstem that contains the spinal nucleus of V - 2nd order neurons that receive pain and temperature information from the face, ear, tongue, nasal and oral cavities

Answer 26

length of the medulla

Question 27

lesions of the brainstem will usually produce _____ cranial nerve signs but _____ body signs

Answer 27

ipsilateral; contralateral

Question 28

inferior and superior colliculi are located in what part of the midbrain?

Answer 28

tectum

Question 29

the nuclei of cranial nerves in the pons are buried in what section?

Answer 29

pontine tegmentum

Question 30

the ____ _____ _____ not only drives parasympathetic control of secretions in the face, it also sends input to cerebral blood vessels, inducing vasodilation.

Answer 30

superior salivatory nucleus

Question 31

cranial nerve that receives input from the carotid body and carotid sinus

Answer 31

CN IX