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Neuroscience > Overview of brainstem organisation > Flashcards

Overview of brainstem organisation Flashcards

1
Q

What does the brainstem act as a gateway between?

A

Spinal cord and higher cortical areas

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2
Q

What are the functions of the brainstem?

A

Reflexive and unconscious behaviour

Modulation of various arousal and conscious states

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3
Q

What are the three major components of the brainstem?

A

Midbrain

Pons

Medulla

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4
Q

Describe the location of the brainstem?

A

Posterior cranial fossa

Extends from mamillary bodies rostrally to pyramidal decussation caudally

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5
Q

Describe the characteristic features of the midbrain, pons and medulla on the dorsal aspect of the brainstem?

A

Midbrain: superior and inferior colliculi

Pons: limited by fourth ventricle, facial collculi

Medulla: dorsal columns, nuclei-gracile and cuneate tubercle

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6
Q

Which part of the brainstem connects to the cerebellum?

A

Pons

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7
Q

Describe the characteristic features of the mibrain, pons and medulla on the ventral aspect of the brainstem?

A

Mibrain: cerebral peduncles

Pons: cerebellar peduncles (superior, middle, inferior)

Medulla: inferior olivary nuclei, pyramidal decussation

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8
Q

What are peduncles?

A

Large white matter tracts

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9
Q

How is the pins attached to the cerebellum?

A

Via the cerebellar peduncles

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10
Q

What is the tectum?

A

The roof of the brainstem

Part of the midbrain

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11
Q

What is the tegmentum?

A

Stucutre that is continuous with the spinal cord

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12
Q

What are the important features of the tectum?

A

Inferior and superior colliculi

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13
Q

What are the important features of the tegmentum?

A

Cranial nerve nuclei

Reticular formation

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14
Q

What is the basis in the brainstem?

What is it important for?

A

Basilar pons

Important for descending motor control

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15
Q

Describe the functional divisions of the brainstem?

A

Ventral: motor control

Dorsal: cranial nerves and their regulation

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16
Q

Decsribe the proportion of tectum, tegmentum and basis at each level of the brainstem?

A

Blue - tectum; Green - tegmentum; Red - basilar part

From superior to inferior: mibrain, pons, medulla

17
Q

Describe the way in which the cranial nerves exit the cranium?

A

CN III-XII exit brainstem in order, rostral to caudally

Most exit ventral surface, except CN IV

18
Q

Describe the rule of four for the cranial nerves?

A

4 CN exit the medulla (CNIX-XII)

4 CN exit the pons (CNV-VIII)

4 CN exit above the pons (2 in the midbrain- CNIII&IV)

19
Q

Where do sensory nuclei of the cranial nevres develop from? Where do motor nuclei develop from?

A

Sensory: alar plate

Motor: basal plate

20
Q

How are the cranial nerve nuclei organised within the brainstem?

A

Positioned in columns (6 either side of midline)

Grouped based on similar functions

Motor nuclei - midline

Sensory nuclei - lateral

21
Q

What are the three motor and three sensory columns for cranial nerve nuclei that lie within the brainstem?

A

MOTOR: general somatic motor, branchial motor, general visceral

SENSORY: general and special visceral, general somatic, special somatic

22
Q

Within which structure is the reticular formation found?

A

Tegmentum

23
Q

What is the reticular formation continuous with rostrally and caudally?

A

Rostrally: nuclei in the thalamus

Caudally: intermediate grey matter of spinal cord

24
Q

What are the functions of the rostral and caudal elements of the reticular formation?

A

Rostral (midbrain and upper pons): maintain alert conscious state

Caudal (pons and medulla): motor reflex and autonomic functions

25
Q

What is the ascending reticular activating system?

A

Rostral element of the reticular formation

Long projection systems that modulate forebrain activity

26
Q

At which levels of the brainstem is the reticular formation found?

A

All levels

27
Q

What are the two major ascending pathways that traverse the brainstem?

A

Dorsal column-medial lemniscus system

Anterolateral system

28
Q

What is the major descending pathway that traverses the brainstem?

A

Corticospinal tract

29
Q

What do the dorsal aspects of the brainstem contain? What do the ventral spects contain?

A

Dorsal: cranial nerve nuclei, reticular formation

Ventral: structures associated with descending motor tracts

Neuroscience (51 decks)

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