ANPS - Brainstem and Cerebellum

Ascending tract

spinal cord to cerebrum

Descending tract

cerebrum to spinal cord

Diencephalon

3 parts: thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus

Thalamus

relay for sensory information

Hypothalamus

regulates endocrine system, autonomic nervous system, limbic system

Pituitary gland

works with hypothalamus to control hormone release

Epithalamus

contains the pineal gland

Pineal gland

produces melatonin hormone

Melatonin

hormone that induces sleep and regulates sleep cycle

Cerebellum

important in coordinating smooth movements

Tegmentum

mixed area of grey and white matter in the brainstem

Superior colliculus

visual reflexes

Inferior colliculus

auditory reflex

Gracile and cuneate nuclei/Dorsal column nuclei

relay somatosensory pathway from spinal cord to cerebral cortex

Cerebral peduncles

connects the cerebellum to various parts of the brainstem

Transverse fibers of the pons

Pyramids

continuation of the axons in the cerebral peduncles

Inferior olivary nucleus

motor learning

Reticular formation

net like web of gray matter throughout the tegmentum; speckled look of gray and white matter; contains cardiovascular/respiratory center, solitary nucleus, and area postrema

Cardiovascular center

regulates blood pressure an blood flow

Respiratory center

regulates breathing rate and depth

Solitary nucleus

processes visceral sensory information and mediates responses through autonomic nervous system

Area postrema

area of medulla that detects blood born toxins and triggers vomiting

Reticular activating system

provides a stream of information to activate parts of cerebral cortex; prohibited by sleep drugs, damage leads to loss of consciousness

Pupillary light reflex

test of midbrain function, pupils should constrict whether conscious or not