Medulla and Cranial Nerves

Flashcards covering the key terms and concepts discussed in the lecture on the medulla and cranial nerves.

Pyramids of the Medulla

Made up of pyramidal axons carrying descending information towards the spinal cord.

Olive (Medulla)

Bulge on the medulla; associated with a nucleus receiving information destined for the cerebellum.

Hypoglossal Nerve

Cranial nerve 12; supplies all muscles of the tongue except one.

Nuclei of Termination

Location in the CNS where cell bodies of sensory neurons (cranial or spinal) are found.

Bilateral Symmetry (Nervous System)

The concept that everything on the left side of the nervous system is also present on the right side, and vice versa.

Cranial Nerve Nuclei

Located on both sides; right side shows abbreviation of nucleus name, left side shows Roman numeral of associated cranial nerve; color indicates type of information.

Oculomotor Nerve

Cranial nerve three; purely motor; categorized as somatic motor; nucleus of origin containing cell bodies of lower motor neurons.

Levator Palpebrae Superioris

Muscle innervated by cranial nerve three; responsible for holding the eyelids up.

Preganglionic Parasympathetic Fiber

Has a long axon; synapses in a ganglion before reaching the target.

Postganglionic Parasympathetic Fiber

Has a short axon; travels from the ganglion to the target muscle.

Accommodation (Eye)

Process of changing focal distance to focus on objects at varying distances; involves changing the shape of the lens.

Pupil Constriction

Occurs when a bright light is shone into the eye.

Nearsightedness

Light is focused too far anterior in the eye (not precisely on the retina).

Farsightedness

Light is focused too far back in the eye (not precisely on the retina).

Astigmatism

Visual defect caused by an irregularity in the shape of the cornea.

Trochlear Nerve

Cranial nerve four; purely motor; supplies one of the six muscles that move the eye.

Mesencephalic Nucleus

Nucleus of termination associated with the trochlear nerve.