Section 1: Basic Clinical Neuroanatomy

Question 1

what cranial nerves have their nucleus is the midbrain?

Answer 1

III, IV

Question 2

what means “upper, closer to head”

Answer 2

rostral

Question 3

what is caudal

Answer 3

lower

Question 4

ventral means towards the

Answer 4

front of the body

Question 5

dorsal means towards the

Answer 5

back of the body

Question 6

3 parts of the brainstem from top to bottom

Answer 6

• midbrain
• pons
• medulla

Question 7

what are the two pairs of bumps on the dorsal side of the midbrain

Answer 7

-superior and inferior colliculi

Question 8

which colliculus on the midbrain is the gate for horizontal and vertical saccades?

Answer 8

superior colliculi

Question 9

what functions does the inferior colliculus do?

Answer 9

auditory functions

Question 10

what is important about the superior colliculus?

Answer 10

• visual processing center
• generation of saccadic eye movements and eye-head coordination
• input from frontal fields

Question 11

what cranial nerve nuclei are in the pons?

Answer 11

V, VI, VII, VIII

Question 12

what cranial nerve nuclei are in the medulla?

Answer 12

IX, X, XI, XII

Question 13

what is located on the dorsal side of the medulla?

Answer 13

the 4th ventricle and the cerebellum

Question 14

what is located below the medulla?

Answer 14

the spinal cord

Question 15

what is “Wallenberg syndrome”?

also called dorsolateral medullary syndrome

Answer 15

-ipsilateral Horner’s
-contralateral hypertropia (skew deviation)
-torsional nystagmus
-hoarseness, difficulty swallowing
-ataxia
(caused by vertebral artery disease)

Question 16

3 specific areas involved in eye movements

Answer 16

• MLF
• riMLF
• PPRF

Question 17

MLF=

Answer 17

medial longitudinal fasciculus

Question 18

the MLF is a bundle of fibers which controls:

Answer 18

vestibular function and eye movements

Question 19

what nuclei are integrated by the MLF?

Answer 19

• oculomotor
• trochlear
• abducens

Question 20

where is the MLF located specifically?

Answer 20

• ventral to the 4th ventricle and extends from rostral midbrain to the rostral medulla
• lies lateral to the oculomotor nuclei and medial to abducens nuclei

Question 21

riMLF stands for what?

Answer 21

rostral interstitial nucleus of the MLF

Question 22

what is the riMLF area important for?

Answer 22

vertical saccadic eye movements

Question 23

what does the riMLF connect?

Answer 23

the 3rd nerve nuclei via the posterior commisure

Question 24

PPRF stands for

Answer 24

paramedian pontine reticular formation

Question 25

what is the PPRF important for?

Answer 25

its an area in the pons which controls horizontal conjugate gaze and saccadic eye movements
(referred to as the horizontal gaze center)

Question 26

where is the PPRF relative to the MLF?

Answer 26

PPRF is ventral to the MLF

Question 27

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid which is produced in the:

Answer 27

choroid plexus of the lateral ventricles

Question 28

describe the path CSF flows

Answer 28

into the lateral ventricles -> inter ventricular foramina -> third ventricle -> sylvan aqueduct -> fourth ventricle -> 3 forming -> subarachnoid space -> drained by the arachnoid villi in the superior sagittal sinus

Question 29

within the subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord are expanded areas called

Answer 29

cisterns

Question 30

where are spinal taps performed

Answer 30

one area in particular that is between L2 and S2 called the lumbar cistern

Question 31

what are some examples of the clinical significance of CSF?

Answer 31

• subarachnoid hemorrhage will result in blood in the CSF

- meningitis will result in pus in the CSF

Question 32

ICP: increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure can result in

Answer 32

papilledema

ICP >200-250 mmH20