Pons and Midbrain

Question 1

Pons = ?

Answer 1

Bridge

Question 2

The pons is a major site for connection of various CNS regions that regulate ________________, ___________________, and _________________.

Answer 2

movement, balance, and proprioception

Question 3

The majority of fibers entering or leaving the _______________
pass through the pons.

Answer 3

cerebellum

Question 4

The major anatomical features of the pons include:
(2 anterior and 4 posterior)

Answer 4

Anterior:
1.)Basilar groove or sulcus
2.) Bulbopontine sulcus

Posterior:
1.) Superior cerebellar peduncles
2.) Median sulcus
3.) Vestibular area
4.) Facial colliculus

Question 5

The _____________________ provides a passageway for the ascending basilar artery.

Answer 5

basilar groove or sulcus

Question 6

How many cranial nerve nuclei
originate in the pons?

Answer 6

five

Question 7

Which cranial nerves originate in the pons?

Answer 7

Motor nuclei
1.) CN V
2.) CN VI
3.) CN VII

Sensory nuclei
1.) CN V
2.) CN VII

Question 8

The pons is the major hub for _____________and ___________.

Answer 8

facial sensation input
motor output

Question 9

Like the __________, the pons can be divided into two anatomical regions that can be further examined in horizontal cross sections

Answer 9

medulla

Question 10

What are the names of the two horizontal cross sections?

Answer 10

1.) Middle pons
2.) Rostral pons

Question 11

In the pon’s horizontal sections, motor and sensory tracts can still be appreciated as well as ______________

Answer 11

cranial nerve nuclei

Question 12

The _________________ (that forms the pyramids in the medulla) descend as thinner tracts in the pons. Some of these fibers reach the cerebellum (____________________)

Answer 12

corticospinal tract
corticocerebellar tract

Question 13

The _____________ exits the middle pons, and its two major nuclei (motor and sensory) originate here as well

Answer 13

trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Question 14

The corticospinal, corticopontine and corticobulbar tracts are found ________________.

Answer 14

ventrally

Question 15

The ________________________ are thick fibers that connect the ventral pons with the cerebellum.

Answer 15

superior cerebellar peduncle

Question 16

The _________ is a major center for cerebellar communication to other areas of the CNS!

Answer 16

pons

Question 17

It is the superior-most region of the brain stem through which all axons entering or exiting the cortex must pass. It’s divided in two regions:
1. ?
2. ?

Answer 17

1. Tegmentum (anterior)
2. Tectum (posterior)

Question 18

What 3 things stem from the tegmentum?

Answer 18

1. oculomotor nerves (CN III)
2. trochlear nerves (CN IV)
3. mammillary bodies

Question 19

What other structure can be an anatomical landmark for the tegmentum?

Answer 19

optic chiasm

Question 20

The ____________ is found posterior to the cerebral aqueduct and contains four “bumps” called the ____________________________.

Answer 20

tectum
corpora quadrigemina

Question 21

The corpora quadrigemina can be subdivided into the _______________________ and ___________________.

Answer 21

superior colliculi (SC) and the inferior colliculi (IC)

Question 22

The _______________________ is an area where visual, auditory and somatosensory information are integrated to initiate motor commands.

Answer 22

superior colliculi (SC)

Question 23

The ______________ is a major site of convergence in the auditory system.

Answer 23

inferior colliculi

Question 24

The caudal midbrain contains only two dopaminergic nuclei in the brain. What are they called?

Answer 24

1. Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
2. Substantia nigra

Question 25

__________________ nuclei are an important part of the reward and motivation system

Answer 25

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

Question 26

Substantia nigra, crucial for _____________.

Answer 26

movement

Question 27

The __________ nucleus where the CN IV originates from .

Answer 27

trochlear

Question 28

Which region does the oculomotor nerve (CN III) exit from?

Answer 28

rostral midbrain

Question 29

The _____________ (black substance) is the most evident at the rostral midbrain level.

Answer 29

substantia nigra

Question 30

The ____________ is important for regulation of eye movement.

Answer 30

red nucleus

Question 31

What structure is a diffuse group of nuclei forming the core of the brainstem?

It also receives general somatic and visceral sensory information.

Answer 31

The reticular formation

Question 32

The reticular formation regulates ____________ and _______________ via cardiovascular centers.

Answer 32

breathing and heart rate

Question 33

Which structure regulates arousal and sleep cycles?

Answer 33

reticular formation

Question 34

The ________________ are the major producers of serotonin (SER).

Answer 34

raphe nuclei

Question 35

The VTA and substancia nigra are the major ___________________.

Answer 35

dopaminergic (DA) nuclei

Question 36

The _____________________ and _____________________ neurons are the major producers of noradrenaline (NA).

Answer 36

locus coeruleus and lateral tegmentum