Brainstem & Reticular formation

What are the 3 main structures in the brainstem

What does the brainstem connect?

Important structures in the brainstem

Where do the CN synapse

CN are paired how?

Long (vertical tracts in the brainstem)

• May come from where?

• May synapse in?

• May originate where?

Brainstem is divided longitudinally into two sections:

Midbrain as longitudinal section:

Basis/Basilar sections: located? contains? function?

Tegmentum: located? contains? function?

Cortico means? Second part is telling where?

cortico = motor

where it synapses

Tectum: located? contains? function?

Medulla has 2 vertical bulges called?

Lateral to pyramids are two small oval lumps called?

Function of superior olive? inferior olive?

What are attached laterally to olive?

What emerges between pyramid and olive?

Medulla functions

Lower medulla contains what? what anteriorly?

What synapses in the lower medulla?

Medulla ends when?

MLF links with? to do what?

Upper medulla contains?

What forms part of the 4th ventricle?

What tracts rise in the upper medulla?

What links the upper medulla to the cerebellum?

Function of solitary nucleus?

Pons function

What connects the pons & cerebellum

What synapses at the pons?

Location of PPRF?

Function of PPRF

What is the uppermost part of the brainstem?

What connects the diencephalon and pons? what is a huge part of this?

What is the only part of brainstem where tectum is found?

The cerebral aqueduct is found where?

Cerebral aqueduct function? Location?

What is the anterior portion of the midbrain (Basilar) formed by?

What are the cerebral peduncles?

What is the substantia nigra apart of?

The posterior portion (tegmentum) part of the midbrain contains?

What is the origin of the rubrospinal tract?

What is the function of the rubrospinal tract?

PPN: part of? function?

PAG: function?

What does the tectum contain?

Pretectal area function

Superior colliculi function

Inferior colliculi function?

What is the function of the cerebellum dependent on?

Cerebellum and brainstem share the tightly confined space of the?

Cerebellum functions

What does the reticular formation include

Main functions of the reticular formation

What arteries supply the brainstem

Where does the vertebral arteries joint? what artery do they come together form?

Vertebral arteries - form basilary artery - splits into?

What does the basilary artery then split into

What does the branches of the posterior cerebral arteries supply?

What are the largest branches of the posterior cerebral arteries?

What does PICA supply

What does AICA supply

What does SCA supply

What does PCA supply

Lateral medullary (Wallenberg’s)

• what artery does it affect?

• what structures does it affect?

• sensory or motor

• Symptoms

Lateral Inferior Pons

• what artery does it affect?

• what structures does it affect?

• sensory or motor

• Symptoms

Warning Signs of Vertebrobasilar ischemia

What should you evaluation to localize lesions within the brainstem

Lesions in the brainstem may cause?

Function of corticobrainstem/corticobulbar tract

Neurons with axons in the corticobulbar/corticobrainstem tract serve as _____ to the motor neurons in cranial nerves ____

Which cranial nerves arise from the frontal eye fields

Complete lesion of the CN VII (facial nerve) LMN

• presentation

• Example

Lesions of corticobulbular axons to facial nucleus (UMN)

• Presentation

• example

Which cranial nerves don’t have dual innervation

Mixed loss can Occur with  Brainstem lesions

Upper anteromedial medulla

• If the lesion is on the L side, what does it result in?

Where are tumors that cause increased intracranial pressure located?

Pressure may cause what symptoms?

Where does a tumor occur that causes ataxia?

Why can damage caused by a benign tumor be extensive?

Most common signs of Midbrain Dysfunction

Pontine dysfunction symptoms

Medullary dysfunction symptoms

If cranial nerve dysfunction is isolated

• it is most likely what kind of lesion?

• Why would it be unusual to see one isolated issue?

Four D’s of Brainstem
Region Dysfunction

What structures regulate vital functions?

Disruption of vital functions secondary to brainstem damage may cause?

Reticular formation: A diffuse network of nerve pathways in the brainstem connecting?

Upper RF function & structure

Lower RF function & structure

Reticular formation is located in?

Reticular formation - Its nuclei descend the length of the brainstem in 3 main columns:

Lateral (Parvocellular) RF functions

• afferent or efferent? motor or sensory?

Paramedian (Magnocellular) RF functions

• afferent or efferent? motor or sensory?

What tracts arise from Paramedian (Magnocellular) RF

Median RF contains? function?

NT of reticular nuclei regulate neural activity through?

Major locations of reticular nuclei - Ventral tegmental area (VTA)?

Major locations of reticular nuclei - Pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN)?

Major locations of reticular nuclei - Raphe nuclei?

Major locations of reticular nuclei - Locus coeruleus and medial reticular area?

Dopamine: location? function?

ACh: location? function?

Serotonin: location? function?

NE: location? function?

What dysfunction is linked to SIDS