Spinal cord and Brainstem structures

ganglia

collections of neuronal cell bodies in the PNS

myelencephalon

medulla

metencephalon

pons and cerebellum

mesencephalon

midbrain

diencephalon

thalamus, hypothalamus, subthalamus, epithalamus

telencephalon

cerebrum and most of basal ganglia

teratogenesis

process by which congenital malformations are produces in an embryo or fetus

which structures make up the brainstem?

medulla, pons, midbrain

What sits dorsal to the 4th ventricle?

cerebellum

2 components of medilla

closed caudal medulla and open rostral medulla

Where does the 4th ventricle start?

open rostral medulla

pyramid

prominent swelling on each side between the ventral median fissure and ventrolateral sulcus

pyramids

composed of bundles of nerve fibers which originate in the motor and sensory cerebral cortices and descend to innervate neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord

Corticospinal/corticobulbar tracts

3 cranial nerves that exit the brainstem at the junction of the pons and medulla on the ventral surface

abducens, facial, and vestibulocochlear nerves

olive

major role in motor learning

function of cuneate nuclei

help shape receptive fields and send sensory information to thalamus

location of cuneate nuclei

closed medulla

function of gracile nuclei

help shape receptive fields and sends information to thalamus

location of gracile nuclei

closed medulla

function of reticular nuclei

cardiovascular regulation and pain modulation

location of reticular nuclei

scattered throughout open and closed sections

function of inferior olivary

motor learning

location of inferior olivary nuclei

open medulla

pons

middle component of brainstem

function of pons

instrumental in communicating with cerebellum (peduncles)

Internal features of pons

corticospinal/corticobulbar tract

pontocerebellar fibers

corticospinal/corticobulbar tract

originate in the motor cortex and are descending to cells in the brainstem and spinal cord

midbrain

connects the pons and cerebellum with the cerebral cortex

external features on dorsal surface of midbrain

superior and inferior colliculi

superior colliculi

important centers in visual system for reflexive eye control and control of head posture

inferior colliculi

important for the auditory system

trochlear nerves

only cranial nerves that emerge from the dorsal aspect of the brainstem

2 parts of midbrain

tectum and tegmentum

tectum

roof of midbrain, lies dorsal to the cerebral aqueduct and consists mainly of the paired colliculi

tegmentum

ventral to the aqueduct and contains the ascending and descending tracts, nuclei of cranial nerves and other nuclei.