Reticular Formation

Question 1

What does the reticular formation control?

Answer 1

sleep and wakefulness, motor system modification, vomiting, and swallowing

Question 2

What parts of the brain does the reticular foramation go through?

Answer 2

midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

Question 3

What do reticular neurons monitor?

Answer 3

ascending and descending traccts

Question 4

Each neuron in the reticular formation has ____ collateral neurons.

Answer 4

many

Question 5

What is the ARAS?

Answer 5

the ascending reticular activating system

Question 6

What structures are involved in the ARAS?

Answer 6

reticular formation, thalamus and cortex

Question 7

In order for the reticular formation to influence the cortex, what structure must it communicate to first?

Answer 7

the thalamus

Question 8

What part of the reticular formation is involved in the ARAS?

Answer 8

the rostral reticular formation

Question 9

How does the ARAS function in arousal?

Answer 9

it ‘wakes up’ the cortex by way of the thalamus so that it can perceive input

Question 10

How does the ARAS function in consciousness?

Answer 10

the ARAS acts to keep the cortex awake by constantly stimulating the thalamus

Question 11

While asleep does the activity of the ARAS increase or decrease?

Answer 11

decrease

Question 12

While asleep does the activity of the thalamus increase or decrease?

Answer 12

DECREASE

Question 13

What part of the reticular formation is involved with sleep?

Answer 13

pontine reticular formation

Question 14

If the pontine reticular formation is lesioned, what happens to your sleep habits?

Answer 14

you will not be able to fall asleep

Question 15

What is the target of anesthesia?

Answer 15

thalamic neurons

Question 16

What are the two reticulospinal tracts?

Answer 16

pontine and medullary

Question 17

What side of the body does the pontine reticulospinal tract affect?

Answer 17

ipsilateral

Question 18

What is the function of the pontine reticulospinal tract?

Answer 18

it excites extensors and inhibits flexors

Question 19

Where does the pontine reticulospinal tract run?

Answer 19

in the ventral funiculus

Question 20

What side of the body does the medullary reticulospinal tract effect?

Answer 20

ipsilateral

Question 21

What is the function of the medullary reticulospinal tract?

Answer 21

excites flexors and inhibits extensors

Question 22

Where does the medullary reticulospinal tract run?

Answer 22

in the lateral funiculus

Question 23

A lesion in the pontine reticulo spinal tract would result in an (a) increase or (b) decrease of excitation of antigravity muscles on the (a) same or (b) opposite side of the body.

Answer 23

(b) decrease, (a) same

Question 24

What is a central pattern generator?

Answer 24

a dedicated circuit of neurons that act to produce a specific sequence of events

Question 25

What nerves are essential for swallowing?

Answer 25

IX, X, and XI

Question 26

In the swallowing reflex, what does the swallowing center get information from?

Answer 26

the nucleus of the solitary tract

Question 27

In the swallowing reflex, what nucleus sends motor output to IX, X, and XI?

Answer 27

nucleus ambiguous

Question 28

Where is the swallowing center located?

Answer 28

in the medullary reticular formation

Question 29

Where is the vomiting pattern generator located?

Answer 29

in the medullary reticular formation

Question 30

Where does the vomiting center receive inputs from?

Answer 30

the chemical trigger zone, vestibular system, stomach and small intestine, and cortex

Question 31

What is the final stop in the vomiting pattern generator?

Answer 31

the vomiting center

Question 32

Where is the chemical trigger zone located?

Answer 32

area postrema

Question 33

What is special about the blood-brain barrier at the chemical trigger zone?

Answer 33

it is incomplete