Overview of Brainstem Organisation Flashcards
What is the gateway between the spinal cord and higher cortical areas?
Brainstem
What are the two major functions of the brainstem?
Reflexive and unconscious behaviour
Modulation of various arousal and conscious states
Where is the brainstem located?
In the posterior cranial fossa, extending from the mammillary bodies to the pyramidal decussation caudally.
What are the 3 divisions of the brainstem?
Midbrain, pons and medulla
What are the two pairs of characteristic bumps on the dorsal aspect of the midbrain?
The superior and inferior colliculi
Which part of the brainstem does the cerebellum attach to?
Pons
What is the pons limited by?
The 4th ventricle
Which parts of the pons form the floor of the 4th ventricle?
The facial colliculi
What forms the facial colliculi
Abducens nucleus and fibres of CNVII (facial nerve)
What forms the dorsal aspect of the caudal medulla?
Dorsal columns and nuclei, forming the gracile and cuneate tubercles
What can be seen on the ventral aspect of the midbrain?
Cerebral peduncles with the interpeduncular fossa in between.
What can be seen on the ventral aspect of the pons?
The superior, middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles dorsolaterally attaching to the cerebellum.
What can be seen on the ventral aspect of the medulla?
Rostral: Inferior olivary nuclei
Pyramids descending to the pyramidal decussation
What is the tectum?
The “roof” of the midbrain - the dorsal part. It refers solely to the colliculi of the midbrain.
What forms the roof of the 4th ventricle?
The 4 colliculi, i.e. the tectum.
What is the tegmentum?
Where the spinal cord continues up into the brainstem - continous with the spinal cord.
Structures within the tegmentum go to the spinal cord.
These include the cranial nerves and reticular formation.
What is the basis?
The basillar pons - the anterior portion of the pons.
Important for descending motor control, e.g. attachments to cerebellum, from cerebellum to other nuclei and tracts important for motor systems.
Which part of the brainstem only applies to the colliculi and midbrain?
The tectum
Which part of the brainstem is a continuation of the spinal cord that travels throughout the entire brainstem?
Tegmentum
What does the tegmentum occupy?
Middle part of the midbrain
Dorsal part of the pons and medulla
What does the tegmentum contain?
Nuclei for the cranial nerves and the reticular formation.
What is the sole focus of the basis?
Motor control
Where do the spinal nerves end?
C2
Which spinal cord segment lacks a dermatome?
C1
What do the spinal nerves supply?
The body