The pons and Cranial Nerves V and VI

Question 1

What are the main connections of the pontine nuclei?

Answer 1

Pontine nuclei are where descending axons from motor cortex relay to cerebellum and vice versa.

Question 2

what are their (pontine nuclei) functions?

Answer 2

They allow cerebellum to give information about muscle contraction, tension etc to motor pathways.

Question 3

Which divisions of the trigeminal nerve are sensory to a) the lips and b) the tongue?

Answer 3

Upper lips supplied by maxillary division of CNV and lower lip by mandibular division; tongue by mandibular division.

Question 4

Predict the likely effect of damage to the trigeminal nerves on speech

Answer 4

Loss of sensation means you cannot sense where they are so loss of precision in placing lips for e.g. bilabials and same for tongue in everything it does in phonetics so some degree of dysarthria.

Question 5

Name two important nuclei in the midbrain concerned with body movements

Answer 5

The 2 nuclei are the red nucleus and the substantia nigra

Question 6

What are the most obvious signs and symptoms following substantia nigra degeneration?
Not covered in the slides yet so bonus points for questions 2-4.

Answer 6

SN degeneration > dyskinesia (Excess or poor movement) Parkinsonian tremor in extremities, mask like facial expression, loss of co-ordination between arms and legs when walking > shuffling gait.

Question 7

Predict the effects of parkinson’s on speech?

Answer 7

Little or no non-verbal communication due to lack of facial expression and gesture, speech monotonic and monoloudness or may be explosive with long pauses.

Question 8

5. What is the function of the superior colliculi?

Answer 8

The superior colliculi co-ordinate eye, head and body movements to follow objects in the visual fields.