Diencephalon, brainstem, cerebellum and spinal chord

None of the 12 cranial nerves

The diencephalon

• thalamus: selective attention and sensory gatekeeper. 

• Hypothalamus: Maintain homeostasis. 

• Pituitary gland: Secretes hormones eg oxytocin & vasopressin

The thalamus- functions

• Motor: balance basil ganglia + cerebellum

• Sensation: vision + hearing, touch/pressure/proprioseption, temperature/pain.

• Cortical inpout - which information is sent to the cortex.

The cerebellum function

Motor coordination and balance

Cerebellum gross anatomy

• fissues and ridges (folia)

• deep nuclei

• hemispheres

• central vermis

Cerebellum lobes and hemispheres functions

Flocculonodular lobe - eye movemernt

vermis - axial control

lteral heisopheres - appendicular control

Parts of the brain stem

• midbrain

• pons

• medulla

Midbrain function and anatomy 

• connects pons, medulla and cerebellum with cortex. 

• Key structures: 

  • Superior colliculus (visual reflexes/ tracking).

  • Inferior colliculus (auditory integration)

  • Substantia nigra: dopamine production (basal nuclei).

CN 3-4

Pons 

• Transfers information from the cerebrum to the cerebellum and medulla 

• Transmits sensory information from periphery to brain. 

CN 5-8

Medulla

Anterior medulla = motor

posterior medulla = sensory

pyramid = centre

olive = latera; 

CN 9-12

Name inportant!! parts of the spinal chord

• Conus medurallis

• cauda equina

Spinal chord white matter

• Periphery

• longitudnal tracts of axons (coated in myelin).

  • Sensory (to brain)

  • motor (from brain)

Spinal chord grey matter

• Central H

• Contains: neuron cell bodies, glial cell bodies.

• Sensory posteriorly, motor anteriorly.