2) Mnemonics & Rules

  • all fine motor movement is contralateral and double-crosses in cerebellum

    • TST is only medial tract that decussates (dorsal VD)

  • pyramidal (voluntary) vs. extrapyramidal (automatic)

  • posterior internal capsule & topographic rule: think (f)ATL

  • reticulospinal tract: extend arms upwards (medial pontine = extension) and flex sideways (lateral medullary = flexion)

  • lateral VST = legs = lower

  • spinoreticular tract = reticular formation = arousal = locus coeruleus

  • CNS (high muscle tone and spasticity) vs. PNS lesions (low muscle tone and flaccidity, leading to atrophy)


  • all but CN1 relay in the VPM

    • non-cranial nuclei relay in VPL

  • CN1 & CN2 are part of the CNS, rest are PNS

  • parasympathetic CNs: 3, 7, 9, 10

    • NST is final common pathway for CN9/10

  • Baum (loop) = upper retinal field/dorsal brain, but starts at roots = lower visual field

  • CN9 lesions: deviation to weak side

  • CN12 lesion: deviation away from weak side


  • climbing fibers climb up through inferior cerebellar peduncle, while pontine travel down through middle cerebellar peduncle

  • intermediate hemispehre: interposed nuclei, motor control, motor learning

  • vermis (all medial tracts), lateral hemisphere (all lateral tracts), and intermediate (laterals + RST)


  • sympathetic (acetylcholine into noradrenaline) vs parasympathetic (doubly cholinergic)

    • exceptions: adrenal glands and sweat glands

  • homeostasis regulation through hormones, visceromotor, and somatoform/behavioral systems

    • neurohypophysis: OV chipkaart = oxytocin vs. vasopressin

    • adrenohypophysis: FLAT PeG

  • sANS: superior tarsal muscle, radial muscle (dilation), and lens flattening (distance)

  • pANS: levator palpebrae muscle, sphincter muscle (constriction), and lens widening (proximity)

  • NST/NA: rostral is tongue related (taste/pharynx and larynx) while caudal is sensory parasympathetics (visceral sensory of 7, 9, 10 / cardioresperatory of 10)

  • peripheral NS: cranial nerves (3, 7, 9, 10), spinal nerves (dorsal root ganglia & motor neurons in ventral horn), ANS nerves/ganglia, and enteric nervous system