reticular formation Flashcards

1
Q

function of the reticular formation

A
  • tasks involve nervous system as a whole
  • functions are integrative
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2
Q

integrative functions of reticular formation include:

A
  • sleep
  • wakefulness
  • alertness
  • consciousness
  • coordination of visceral functions (homeostasis)
  • responses to pain/pain modulation
  • body posture
  • mental state
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3
Q

reticular formation defined as

A

gray matter that composes the core of the brain stem
- excluding cranial nerve nuclei and ascending and descending tracts)

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4
Q

reticular formation consists of

A

networks and branched neurons

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5
Q

reticular formation is

A
  • related to many other parts of the nervous system
  • the nuclei are not as clearly defined histologically
  • phylogenetically old system
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6
Q

connections of the reticular formation

A
  • afferent connections
  • efferent connections
  • reticular formation has integrative function
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7
Q

afferent connections to reticular formation

A
  • all sensory systems (not specific)
  • many other areas
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8
Q

efferent connections of reticular formation

A

very widespread

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9
Q

location of reticular formation

A
  • near the center
  • anterior to the ventricular system
  • in the core of the brain stem
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10
Q

neuronal organization of the reticular formation

A
  • large and small cells
  • dendritic web of large cells = perpendicular to axis of brain stem
  • projection neurons have long axons
  • pathways are diffuse
  • the cell bodies and axons are below the brainstem
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11
Q

axons of the neuronal projections of reticular formation

A
  • ascend and descend
  • have numerous collaterals
  • make very large number of synaptic connections
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12
Q

general function of the reticular formation

A
  • axons and dendrites pick up information
  • ascending, descending tracts
  • take general information from all kinds of places to the brain stem
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13
Q

the ascending axons has branches that go to

A
  • PAG
  • thalamus
  • hypothalamus
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14
Q

the descending axons has branches that go to

A
  • nucleus gracilis
  • medulla
  • etc.
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15
Q

configurations of the neurons of reticular formation

A

left: 2 neurons, opposite direction of movement, collateral extensions to communicate with each other
right: 1 neuron, with 2 branches that go up and down with collateral extension

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16
Q

serotonergic nuclei

A

raphe nucleus
- serotonin neurotransmitter
- project to thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, cortex, spinal cord, cerebellum

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17
Q

raphe nuclei

A
  • in midline of medulla, pons, midbrain
  • serotonergic
  • efferent branches reach many parts of NS including spinal cord
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18
Q

locus ceruleus nuclei

A
  • nucleus of noradrenergic pathways
  • send to hippocampus, basal ganglia, cortex, cerebellum
  • near mesencephalic V under superior cerebellar peduncle
  • efferent branches reach many parts of the NS
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19
Q

dopaminergic pathways

A
  • produce dopamine
  • include substantia nigra and tegmental area
  • project to insula, caudate and putamen, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, cortex
20
Q

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A
  • sleep and consciousness
  • record electrical acvitivy of the brain by picking up cortical activity
  • filters out spikes
  • left with synaptic activity of the brain
21
Q

EEG waves

A

beta - wake brain (High freq. low volt)
alpha - close eyes and sit back (slow freq, higher volt)
theta - falling asleep (slow freq, high volt)
delta - deep sleep (slow waves, high amplitude)

22
Q

EEG waves classified by

A
  • frequency
  • amplitude
  • synchronized vs desynchronized
23
Q

synchronized vs desynchronized

A
  • waves start working together to increase synchronizaition for rhythm and higher frequency but low voltage
24
Q

EEG waves during sleep

A

low frequency
high amplitude
synchronized

25
Q

EEG waves during wakefulness

A

high frequency
low amplitude

26
Q

REM sleep

A
  • cycles of sleep
  • episodes of desynchronization (4-5 times/night)
  • rapid eye movements
27
Q

sleep stages

A

REM = when you dream

28
Q

how does reticular formation affect sleep and consciousness

A
  • reticular activating system: projections to the thalamus which has many nuclei and activates the cortex
  • thalamus > cortex
29
Q

arousal

A
  • reticular network receives collateral inputs form all ascending sensory pathways (typically sound)
30
Q

coma

A
  • lesions of reticular formation (upper brain stem) result in coma
  • coma can also be the result of cortical damage
31
Q

arousal nuclei include

A
  • locus ceruleus
  • raphe nuclei
32
Q

sleep inducing system

A
  • ascending arousal system originates in the pons
  • sleep promoting neurons in hypothalamus inhibit arousal areas
  • mutual inhibition produces a flip-flop switch
33
Q

REM sleep system

wheredoes it stem from?

A

pontine reticular formation contains neurons that generate REM sleep

34
Q

other uses of EEG

A
  • detecting and localizing seizures
  • identifying brain death
35
Q

reticulospinal tracts have 2 types:

A
  • medullary reticulospinal tract
  • pontine reticulospinal tract

both located in anterior foniculus

36
Q

reticulospinal tracts act:

A
  • mainly on extensors
  • mainly on gamma motor neurons
  • controls sensitivity of spindles
37
Q

gamma motor system

A
  • gamma motor neuron goes to polar ends of spindles
  • increase spindle stretch
  • makes whole reflex more sensitive
38
Q

intermediolateral cell column

A
  • control of the autonomic nervous system and vital centers
  • sympathetic part comes from this
  • in lateral horn of grey matter
39
Q

reticular formation sends signals down intermediolateral cell column and

A

influence sympathetic activity or autonomic activity in general

40
Q

vital function

A
  • respiration
  • heart beat
41
Q

cardiac and vascular centers

A
  • cardiovascular:
  • vasomotor center: vasoconstriction
  • loacted in medulla
42
Q

respiratory centers

A
  • in pons and medulla
  • lesions here can cause death
43
Q

other autonomic centers of the medullary and pontine reticular formation

A
  • swallowing
  • vomiting
  • gagging
  • coughing
  • sneezing
  • shivering
  • micturition
  • crying
44
Q

spinoreticular tract

A
  • tract can project to reticular formation instead of VPL and go to large areas of cortex instead
  • non-specific
45
Q

pain modulation

A
  • periacqueduct of grey is a source of descending pathway to RF in medulla (medial and lateral part)
  • raphe nuclei send serotonin
  • noradrenergic input to substantia gelatinosa
  • (inhibit?) pain and temp signaling
46
Q

reactions to noxious stimulus

A
  • reflexes
  • vocalization
  • sweating
  • pupillary dilation
  • heart rate increase
  • BP changes
  • behavioral changes
47
Q

mood disorders

A

monoamine hypothesis of depression
- noradrenergic, serotonergic, and dapaminergic send transmitters to nuclei that can indicate mood