The Brain Stem Flashcards
group of cell bodies in the PNS
ganglion
groups of cell bodies in the CNS
nuclei
group of cell bodies on the surface of the brain
cortex
bundle of myelinated axons in the CNS connecting CNS structures
tract, fasiculus, column, pedundle, capsule, lemniscus
what are the 3 primary functions of the brainstem
Conduit: ascending (sensory) and descending (motor and autonomic) tracts
Cranial nerve ganglia and nuclei: sensory and motor for head, neck, viscera and hearing, equilibrium and taste
Reticular formation
what does reticular formation help in the regulation of
sleep, arousal, pain, perception, visceral activities, cardiovascular and pulmonary function
ALS
pain, crude touch, temperature
DCML
proprioception, vibration, discriminative touch
spinocerebellar tract
unconscious proprioception and coordination to cerebellum
what the primary descending tract
corticospinal tract (pyramidal tract)
where does the corticospinal tract go to
lower motor neurons in lamina 9 of the ventral horn of spinal cord
what descending tracts originate in the brainstem, are motor, but do not pass through the pyramids
extrapyramidal descending tracts
examples of extrapyramidal tracts
tectospinal, rubrospinal, reticulospinal, vestibulospinal, ceruleospinal and raphespinal tracts
connects CN 3, 4, and 6 with vestibular nuclei
medial longitudinal fasciculus
connects cortex to the brainstem
corticobulbar (corticobrainstem) tracts
bulb
brainstem
what two tracts cross in the brainstem
DCML (ascending) and corticospinal (descending) tracts
where is the crossing point in the brainstem
pyramids
what two CN are associated with midbrain
3 and 4
what 4 CN are associated with pons
5-8
what 3 CN are associated with medulla
9, 10, 12
where is CN 11 nuclei located
cervical spinal cord
netlike
reticulum
a neural network of reticular nuclei and axons extending t/o brainstem
reticular formation
where does reticular formation send information to (4 major regions of the brain)
thalamus, spinal cord, brain stem nuclei, cerebellum
what is the main function of the reticular formation
regulates the excitability of cortical neurons through many convergent and divergent synapses
what does the reticular formation process and regulate
- process sensory info
- regulate motor function
- regulate autonomic function
- regulate sleep/wake cycles and state of consciousness via Reticular Activating system
- regulate emotional behavior
ventral tegmental areas produces what
dopamine
pedunculopontine nucleus produces what
acetylcholine
raphe nucleis produces what
serotonin
locus coeruleus produces what
norepinephrine and epinephrine
motivation, decision making, reward seeking, drug addiction, schizophrenia
dopamine
influences movement through connections with basal ganglia and emotional system
acetycholine
in midline of medulla, pons and midbrain and is associated with mood, pain regulation and sleep
serotonin
under floor of 4th ventricle associated with direction of attention and regulation of autonomic functions
norepinephrine and epinephrine
what is the anterior division of brainstem and what is primarily there
basilar section, primary motor (descending tracts)
what is the posterior division of the brainstem
tegmentum
what is in the tegmentum
reticular formation, sensory nuclei an tracts, CN nuclei and medial longitudinal fasciculus
most inferior part of brainstem and continuous with spinal cord
medulla
location where most of the descending corticospinal tracts decussate
pyramids
where does the DCML synapse on
nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuteatus