W5 - Brainstem

Question 1

Where does the medulla oblongata relay sensory information to?

Answer 1

The thalamus and other portions of the BSt

Question 2

What is the main function for the medulla oblongata?

Answer 2

Main autonomic centre for visceral function (cardiovascular etc.)

Question 3

Where does the pons relay sensory information to?

Answer 3

The thalamus and cerebellum

Question 4

What 2 motor centres are found in the pons?

Answer 4

Subconscious somatic and visceral

Question 5

What two types of data are processed in midbrain?

Answer 5

Visual and auditory

Question 6

What does the midbrain generate and what does it maintain?

Answer 6

Somatic motor reflexes, maiintains consciousness

Question 7

What circulation supplies the Bst?

Answer 7

The posterior circulation

Question 8

What two artery types supply the medial parts of the Bst?

Answer 8

Vertebral and basilar arteries

Question 9

What arteries supply the lateral parts of the Bst? (4)

Answer 9

The 3 cerebellar vessels (PICA, AICA and the SCA) and the posterior cerebral artery

Question 10

What 3 ‘systems’ are found in the brainstem?

Answer 10

Sensory, motor and parasympathetic

Question 11

What are the cerebral peduncles (white matter), where do they arise and what is contained within them?

Answer 11

The two stalks that join the cerebrum to the Bst arising from the midbrain and containing aff/eff pathways

Question 12

Are the descending tracts ventral or dorsal on the Bst?

Answer 12

Ventral

Question 13

What are the superior and inferior colliculi involved in? (seen on the posterior side of the Bst)

Answer 13

Superior - visual pathway, inferior - auditory

Question 14

What is between the posterior side of the Bst and the cerebellum?

Answer 14

the 4th ventricle

Question 15

What do the white matter cerebellar peduncles do?

Answer 15

Connect Bst to the cerebellum

Question 16

When the spinal cord becomes the Bst, what happens to the sensory nuclei and motor nuclei centres?

Answer 16

The sensory (dorsal horns) move laterally and th motor (ventral horns) move medially

Question 17

What colliculi and peduncles can be seen when you cut rostrally through midbrain and caudally through the midbrain?

Answer 17

Rostral - superior colliculi and cerebral peduncles, Caudal - inferior colliculi and cerebral peduncles

Question 18

What does the reticular in the middle of the Bst contain lots of?

Answer 18

Integrating centres for reflexes

Question 19

The MLF connects the brainstem’s gaze centres and the vestibular system, what does this allow for?

Answer 19

The coordination of eye movements and maintenance of gaze with head movement

Question 20

The PAG is involved in descending pain control and???

Answer 20

Regulation of autonomic functions

Question 21

What can be seen in the caudal midbrain that you cant see in the rostral?

Answer 21

Pontine nuclei and decussation of superior cerebellar peduncles

Question 22

What two ascending sensory pathways can be seen in the midbrain and pons?

Answer 22

MEdial lemniscus and spinothalamic tract

Question 23

What are the 3 peduncles contained in the pons?

Answer 23

Medial, Superior and Inferior

Question 24

What do the medial and inferior peduncles of the pons contain?

Answer 24

Ascending cerebellar afferents

Question 25

What happens to the 4th ventricle as you move from rostral pons to caudal pons?

Answer 25

Gets much larger/wider

Question 26

What tract runs through the pyramids present on the medulla and through the cerebral peduncle of the midbrain?

Answer 26

Corticospinal tract (a ventral descending tract)

Question 27

What two nuclei can be seen in the caudal medulla and not the rostral medulla?

Answer 27

Gracilis and cuneatus

Question 28

What is present in the tegmentum of the midbrain?

Answer 28

Substantia nigra

Question 29

What are the ‘squiggly’ grey matter structures called that can be seen in the medulla?

Answer 29

Olives