Introduction to the Brainstem Flashcards

1
Q

Mesencephalon

A

Midbrain

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2
Q

Metencephalon

A

Pons

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3
Q

Myelencephalon

A

Medulla

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4
Q

What are the 4 main components of the brain stem?

A
  1. Cranial nerve nuclei and related structures
  2. Long tracts
  3. Cerebellar circuitry
  4. Reticular formation and related structures
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5
Q

What are the 3 main divisions of the brainstem?

A

Midbrain, pons, and medulla

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6
Q

What does the tegmentum do?

A

Forms a thick covering over the bases of the cerebral penduncles, basal pons, and pyramids

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7
Q

What important structures are contained within the tegmentum?

A
  1. Reticular formation
  2. Cranial nerve nuclei
  3. Most ascending and descending tracts
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8
Q

What is the only cranial nerve that comes off posterior side of the brainstem?

A

Trochlear

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9
Q

What are 2 examples of sensory long tracts?

A
  1. Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway

2. Anterolateral pathway

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10
Q

What sensory info does the Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway provide?

A

Tactile proprioception

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11
Q

What sensory info does the Anterolateral pathway provide?

A

Pain, temperature, crude touch

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12
Q

What is an example of a motor long tract?

A

Corticospinal pathway (Pyramidal tract)

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13
Q

What sensory info does the Spinothalamic tract provide?

A

Pain and temperature from head

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14
Q

What sensory info does the Medial lemniscus pathway provide?

A

Tactile and proprioceptive info from head

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15
Q

What sensory info does the Dorsal trigeminal tract provide?

A

Sensory info from the oral cavity

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16
Q

Describe the Inferior Olivary Nucleus.

A

Start of climbing fibers; aids cerebellum in coordination of movement

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17
Q

Pontine nuclei give rise to axons that travel into the cerebellum via the what?

A

Middle cerebellar peduncle

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18
Q

Input to the cerebellum from the inferior olivary nuclei and spinal cord travel through what?

A

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

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19
Q

Output from the cerebellum travels in the what?

A

Superior cerebellar peduncles

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20
Q

What is the function of the Edinger-Westphal nuclei?

A

Visceromotor via occulomotor nerve to pupillary sphincter and ciliary muscle

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21
Q

What is the function of the occulomotor nerve?

A

Motor to all eye muscles, except lateral rectus and superior oblique

22
Q

What is the function of the trochlear nerve?

A

Motor to superior oblique

23
Q

What is the function of the trigeminal nerve?

A

Motor to muscles of mastication

24
Q

What is the function of the abducens nerve?

A

Motor to lateral rectus

25
Q

What is the function of the facial nerve?

A

Motor to muscle of facial expression

26
Q

What is the functions of the salivatory nuclei?

A

Visceromotor via facial and glossopharyngeal nerves to salivary glands

27
Q

What is the function of the dorsal motor nuclei?

A

Visceromotor via vagus to thorax and abdomen

28
Q

What is the function of the nucleus ambiguus?

A

Lower motor neurons to pharynx/larynx, visceromotor to heart

29
Q

What is the function of the accessory nerve?

A

Motor to sternocleidomastoid and trapezius

30
Q

What is the function of the mesencephalic nuclei?

A

Mostly cell bodies of muscle spindle fibers from head

31
Q

What is the function of the trigeminal main accessory nuclei?

A

Touch, proprioception from head

32
Q

What is the function of the cochlear nuclei?

A

Auditory input

33
Q

What is the function of the vestibular nuclei?

A

Input from vestibular apparatus

34
Q

What is the function of the nucleus of the solitary tract?

A

Taste and visceral afferent input from facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves

35
Q

What is the function of the spinal trigeminal nuclei?

A

Pain, temperature, crude touch from the head

36
Q

The pathway of the vestibulo-ocular reflex is the response to what?

A

Rotation to the left

37
Q

Describe the vestibule-ocular reflex.

A

Excitation of the left horizontal semicircular duct causes increased contraction of the right lateral rectus and left medial rectus by way of excitatory interneurons in the left vestibular nuclei. Simultaneously, motor neurons for the left lateral rectus and right medial rectus are inhibited by way of inhibitory interneurons.

38
Q

What is the reticular formation comprised of?

A

Numerous relatively small and diverse nuclei scattered throughout the tegmentum

39
Q

What does the various nuclei of the reticular formation do?

A

Contact all levels of the CNS and are involved in virtually every activity from visceral functions to consciousness.

40
Q

The brainstem does not contain what 2 cranial nerves?

A

Olfactory and optic

41
Q

What does fine/proprioceptive information enter?

A
  1. Fasciculus gracilis and Tuberculum gracile (below T6)

2. Fasciculus cuneatus and tuberculum cuneatum (above T6)

42
Q

What is the obex?

A

floor of 4th ventricle

43
Q

Inferior cerebellar peduncle receives inform the what?

A

Olive

44
Q

Middle cerebellar peduncle receives input from what?

A

Pons

45
Q

The Anterolateral pathway include what tract?

A

Spinothalamic tract

46
Q

Describes the Auditory pathway.

A

Fibers enter from cochlea to synapse on cochlear nuclei. Fibers then synapse on superior olive. Fibers run up lateral lemniscus and then synapse on inferior colliculus. Fibers then run to medial geniculate body, and then to the primary auditory cortex.

47
Q

In an embryo sensory nuclei are located where?

A

Dorsal horn

48
Q

In an embryo motor nuclei are located where?

A

Ventral horn

49
Q

Motor nuclei are located where in relation to the sulcus limitans?

A

Medial to sulcus limitans

50
Q

Sensory nuclei are located where in relation to the sulcus limitans?

A

Lateral to sulcus limitans