brainstem as an integrative center; brainstem nuclei in the medulla, pons and midbrain

dorsal funiculus

contains large diameter processes of dorsal root ganglion neurons; carry sensory information to medulla

• contains 2 fasiculi - fasiculus gracilus and fasiculus cuneatus

fasiculus gracilius

carry touch information from lower limbs (below T6)

fasiculus cuneatus

carry touch information from upper limbs (above T6)

fasiculus gracilus

fasiculus cuneatus 

cervical spinal cord cross-section structures 

1. fasiculus gracilus

2. nucleus gracilus

3. fasiculus cuneatus

4. nucleus cuneatus

5. spinal nucleus of V

6. spinal tract of V

spino-medullary junction cross section structures

nucleus garcilus

gracile tubercle

fasiculus gracilus axons synpase in BLANK BLANK to form the BLANK BLANK

nucleus cuneatus

cuneate tubercle

fasiculus cuneatus axons synapse in BLANK BLANK to form the BLANK BLANK 

spinal nucleus of V

trigeminal tubercle

spinal tract of V axons synpase in BLANK BLANK BLANK BLANK to form the BLANK BLANK

nucleus gracilus and cuneatus

carry fine touch, discrimination, propioception, and vibration from upper/lower limbs

spinal nucelus of V

carry pain and temperature information from face

trigeminal ganglion

contains cell bodies of origin of the trigeminal nuclear complex

nucleus gracilus

nucleus cuneatus

spinal tract of V

spinal nucleus of V

caudal medulla cross section structures

hypoglossal nucleus

dorsal visceral motor vagal nucleus

nucleus ambiguus

nucleus solitarius

vestibular nucleus

spinal nucleus of V

spinal tract of V

rostral medulla cross section structures

cochlear nucleus

ICP

vestibular nucleus

spinal tract of V

spinal nucleus of V

ponto-medullar junction cross section structures 

vertebral arteries

PICA

anterior spinal arteries

blood supply of medulla

vertebral artery

supplies blood to ventral and lateral medulla

anterior spinal arteries

supplied blood to midline structures in medulla and medial tegmentum

PICA

supplies blood to dorsal and lateral medulla including cranial nerve nuclei and cerebellum

pontine nuclei

neurons in basilar pons form this; they give rise to axons that cross the midline and project to cerebellym as pontocerebellar projections

pontocerebellar projections

axons that form the middle cerebellar peduncles

basilar pons cross section

corticospinal tract

made up of axons that arose from neurons in the cerebral cortex; these axons will terminate on motor neurons in the spinal cord

• mediate voluntary control of movement 

abducens nucleus

facial nucleus

nucleus solitarius

vestibular nucleus

spinal nucleus of V

caudal pons cross section stuctures

trigeminal nuclear complex

consist of 3 nuclei

• main sensory nucleus

• spinal nucleus

• mesencephalic nucleus

mescephalic nucleus

receive propioception informationf rom muscles of mastication

• sensory neurons here failed to migrate to periphery

motor V

nucleus that contains neurons that have axons that innervate muscles of mastication

pontine arteries

superior cerebellar arties

vascular supply of pons

pontine arteries

supplies blood to basilar pons

superior cerebellar arteries

supplied blood to lateral tegmentum area of rostral pons

inferior colliculus

relay auditory information

superior colliculus

receives input from retina; reflex reactions

cerebral peduncle

interpeduncular fossa

basilar pons

superior cerebellar peduncle

tegmentum

cerebral aquduct

periaqueductal gray

troclear nucleus

inferior colliculus

caudal midbrain cross section structures

troclear nucleus

located in caudal midbrain; troclear nerve is the only cranial nerve that exits from dorsal aspect of brain; also only cranial nerve that crosses to innervate contralateral muscle

locus ceruleus

primary source of norepinephrine to the brain; important for alerting responses

cerebral peduncle

interpeduncular fossa

substania nigra

red nucleus

tegmentum

ventral tegmental area

oculomotor nucleus

cerebral aqueduct

periaqueductal gray

superior colliculus

rostral midbrain cross section structures

substania nigra

located in rostral midbrain; related to motor control and basal ganglia - source of dopamine for basal ganglia

red nucleus

related to motor control and cerebellum

ventral tegmental area

source of dopamine for forebrain

reticular formation

tegmentum

posterior cerebral artery

posterior communicating arteries

blood supply for midbrain