Unit 8 Flashcards
Midbrain has which colliculus?
superior and inferior colliculus
basic functions of brainstem
cranial nerves
pathway for ascending/descending tracts
integration
esp. reticular formation
Tectum, roof, is really only found in the midbrain. T or F
T
tegmentum can be found in what aspects of the brainstem?
mid brain/pons/medula
But i starts anteriorly and moves posteriorly
alar plate (sensory)+ basal plate (motor) and now in the brainstem the motor nuclei are more ________ and the lateral is more _________
motor medial/sensory lateraly
Contents of rostral midbrain?
Superior colliculus
Oculomotor nucleus
Edinger-Westphal nucleus
Substantia nigra
Red nucleus
How I remember midbrain contents?
EORSS
Oculomotor Nucleus
in rostral midbrain
Function
ipsilateral control of eyelid & 4 extraocular muscles
superior rectus
medial rectus
inferior rectus
inferior oblique
via CN III
Oculomotor NucleusLesion
Impaired eye movement
lateral strabismus
diplopia
double vision
vertical eye movements impaired
Ptosis
drooping eyelid
Edinger-Westphal Nucleus
in rostral midbrain
Function
pupil constriction
focus
carried on CN III
oculomotor n.
Lesion
mydriasis
dilated pupil
fails pupillary light reflex test
cannot focus near
Substantia Nigra
in rostral midbrain
Function
part of basal ganglia
dopamine production
pars compacta
Lesion
Parkinson’s Disease
Red Nucleus
in rostral midbrain
almost to thalamus
Function
part of cortical/cerebellar motor circuit
Lesion
rostral to red nucleus
=decorticate rigidity
caudal to red nucleus
=decerebrate rigidity
may also exhibit cerebellar signs (e.g., ataxia)
Lesions of Upper Motor Pathways
Damage rostral to midbrain
rostral to red nucleus
= decorticate posture
“toward the cord”
arms, hands, & fingers flexed
legs extended & internally rotated
Lesions of Upper Motor Pathways
Damage caudal to midbrain
caudal to red nucleus
decerebrate posture
“lots of E’s”
arms extended
esp elbows
arms & legs extended and internally rotated
Caudal Midbrain contents
both posterior
inferior colliculus
Trochlear nucleus
Trochlear Nucleus
in caudal midbrain
near midline
Function
control of contralateral superior oblique m.
via CN IV
only CN to emerge dorsally
Lesion
diplopia while looking down and lateral
e.g., descending stairs, reading
less noticeable than other ocular muscle deficiencies
Pons Content
Mescencephalic nucleus of V
Trigeminal motor nucleus
Trigeminal main sensory nucleus
Abducens nucleus
Facial motor nucleus
Cochlear nucleus
Vestibular nuclei (continue into medulla)
Trigeminal Motor Nucleus
in mid-pons
Function
motor neurons for muscles of mastication
masseter, temporalis, pterygoids
Lesion
unilateral have no symptoms
due to bilateral innervation
bilateral lesions often result in poor chewing
Trigeminal Main Sensory Nucleus
aka – principal sensory nucleus of V
in mid-pons
Function
conscious sensation of face & head
synapses here (midpons), decussates immediately, & then joins medial lemniscus
Lesion
ipsilateral loss of touch sensation in face/head
Abducens Nucleus (VI)
in caudal pons
~close to midline
Function
control of ipsilateral lateral rectus m.
Lesion
medial strabismus
Abducens Nucleus Lesion
Coordinates with contralateral CN III (medial rectus) via MLF pathway
L abducens damaged
Looking straight ahead: L eye medial strabismus
Looking towards the L :strabismus worse
Facial Motor Nucleus (VII)
in caudal pons
~close to midline
Function
control of facial muscles
bilateral to upper face
unilateral to lower face (ipsilateral)
Lesion
hemiplegia of ipsilateral face
more pronounced symptoms in lower face muscles
Facial Nerve Fun points
Facial nerve courses posteriormedially
around abducens nucleus
Forms big “U”
genu of the facial nerve
exits at pons/medulla junction