Practical 2 - Station 1 - Brainstem

Question 1

What 5 parts if the brain divided into during development?

Answer 1

1. Telencephalon
2. Diencephalon
3. Mesencephalon
4. Metencephalon
5. Myelencephalon

Question 2

What is in the telencephalon?

Answer 2

(cerebral hemispheres)

Question 3

What is in the diencephalon?

Answer 3

(thalamus, hypothalamus)

Question 4

What is in the mesencephalon?

Answer 4

(midbrain)

Question 5

What is in the metencephalon?

Answer 5

(pons, cerebellum)

Question 6

What is in the myelencephalon?

Answer 6

(medulla oblongata)

Question 7

What is the forebrain made up of?

Answer 7

Telecephalon and the diencephalon

cerebral hemispheres, thalamus, hypothalamus

Question 8

What is the midbrain made up of?

Answer 8

Mesencephalon

Question 9

What is the hindbrain made up of?

Answer 9

Metencephalon anf the myelencephalon

pons, cerebellum, medulla oblongata

Question 10

What is the brainstem made up of?

Answer 10

Medulla oblongata
pons
midbrain

Question 11

What passes through the brainstem?

Answer 11

Ascending and descending fibre tracts

Question 12

What are the cerebral peduncles and where are they?

Answer 12

In the midbrain of the brainstem
Massive bundles of nerve fibres descending from cerebral motor cortex to brainstem and spinal cord (e.g. corticospinal tract)

Question 13

Where is the midbrain seen?

Answer 13

Short so little can be seen unless mid-sagittal section

Question 14

What is the appearance of the pons like?

Answer 14

Bridge like
sharp demarcation rostrally and caudally
ridged appearance

Question 15

Which cranial nerves are associated with the pons?

Answer 15

CN V-VIII

Question 16

What is one the ventral surface of the medulla?

Answer 16

Pyramids

Question 17

Where does the corticospinal tract decussate?

Answer 17

Medullary pyramids - ventral surface of medulla in brainstem

Question 18

What is the medulla a continuation of and where?

Answer 18

Spinal cord through foramen magnum

Question 19

What is the inferior olive?

Answer 19

Lateral to rostral part of medullary pyramids
oval swellings
associated with cerbellum

Question 20

What cranial nerves are associated with the medulla?

Answer 20

CN IX-XII

Question 21

Which cranial nerves emerge lateral to the inferior olive?

Answer 21

glossopharyngeal and vagus

Question 22

Which cranial nerves emerge between inferior olive and pyramids?

Answer 22

hypoglossal

Question 23

What are the colliculi?

Answer 23

Inferior and superior
On dorsal surface of midbrain
paired swellings
buried beneath overlying cerebral hemispheres
inferior - auditory info 
superior - optic info
(both integration centres)

Question 24

Where do the cuneate and the gracilis lie?

Answer 24

Either side of the most caudal part of the 4th ventricle

Question 25

What is the obex?

Answer 25

Where 4th ventricle opens from - central canal, 1/3 of way up medulla

Question 26

Where does the CSF of the 4th ventricle drain to?

Answer 26

Into central canal of spinal cord inferiorly

Into cerebral aqueduct superiorly

Question 27

What is the major feature of the midbrain seen in a coronal section?

Answer 27

Cerebral peduncles

Question 28

What is the major feature of the pons seen in a coronal section?

Answer 28

4th ventricle

Question 29

What is the effect of the 4th ventricle opening and closing?

Answer 29

When open - rostral medulla opens to cerebellum

when closed - forms central canal for spinal cord and caudal medulla considered closed

Question 30

What does the blood supply to the brainstem arise from?

Answer 30

Vertebral arteries

Question 31

What do the vertebral arteries form?

Answer 31

Basilar artery

Question 32

Where does the basilar artery run?

Answer 32

Entire length of pons

Question 33

Where does the basilar artery split and into what?

Answer 33

Pontine-midbrain junction

Into posterior cerebral artery

Question 34

What does the Posterior cerebral artery give off?

Answer 34

Several branches:
Anterior inferior cerebellar artery
superior cerebellar artery