S2_L2: Brainstem Flashcards

1
Q

Largest part of the brainstem and is commonly divided into a posterior part (tegmentum) and an anterior basal part by transversely running fibers of the trapezoid body.

A

Pons

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2
Q

Determine the corresponding structures transmitted by the openings in the skull

  1. Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, lesser petrosal nerve
  2. Internal carotid artery
  3. Lacrimal, frontal, trochlear, oculomotor, nocicilliary, and abducent nerve; superior ophthalmic vein, ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve
  4. Maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve
  5. Middle meningeal artery

A. Foramen rotundum
B. Foramen ovale

C. Foramen spinosum
D. Foramen lacerum
E. Superior orbital fissure

A
  1. B
  2. D
  3. E
  4. A
  5. C
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3
Q

Determine the corresponding bones of the skull where these openings can be located

  1. Superior orbital fissure
  2. Foramen spinosum
  3. Perforations in cribriform plate
  4. Foramen lacerum
  5. Optic canal
  6. Foramen rotundum

A. Ethmoid
B. Between lesser and greater wing of sphenoid

C. Greater wing of sphenoid
D. Lesser wing of sphenoid
E. Between petrous part of temporal and sphenoid

A
  1. B
  2. C
  3. A
  4. E
  5. D
  6. C
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4
Q

Determine the corresponding bones of the skull where these openings can be located

  1. Foramen ovale
  2. Foramen magnum
  3. Internal acoustic meatus
  4. Jugular foramen
  5. Hypoglossal canal

A. Occipital
B. Between petrous part of temporal and condylar part of occipital
C. Greater wing of sphenoid
D. Lesser wing of sphenoid
E. Petrous part of temporal

A
  1. C
  2. A
  3. E
  4. B
  5. A
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5
Q

What 2 structures are transmitted by the optic canal?

A
  1. optic nerve
  2. ophthalmic artery
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6
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: In the jugular foramen, the sigmoid sinus becomes the internal jugular vein.

A

True

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7
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: The foramen magnum transmits the medulla oblongata and the right and left vertebral arteries.

A

True

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8
Q

Stalklike in shape and connects the narrow spinal cord with the expanded forebrain (cerebrum). It is made up of the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the midbrain and occupies the posterior cranial fossa of the skull.

A

Brainstem

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9
Q

What is the narrow channel filled with cerebrospinal fluid that traverses the midbrain and connects the third and fourth ventricles?

A

Cerebral aqueduct / aqueduct of Sylvius

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10
Q

The four colliculi on the posterior surface of the midbrain are termed as the

A

corpora quadrigemina

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11
Q

The 2 superior colliculi are centers for (1)___ reflexes, and the 2 inferior colliculi are lower (2)___ centers.

A
  1. visual
  2. auditory
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12
Q

In the midline of the midbrain below the inferior colliculi, what cranial nerve emerges?
After emerging, this small-diameter nerve winds around the lateral aspect of the midbrain to enter the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus.

A

Trochlear nerve / CN IV

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13
Q

On the lateral aspect of the midbrain, the superior and inferior brachial ascend in a/an ___ direction.

A

anterolateral

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14
Q

The superior brachium passes from the superior colliculus to the (1)___ and optic tract. The inferior brachium connects the inferior colliculus to the (2)___.

A
  1. lateral geniculate body
  2. medial geniculate body
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15
Q

On the anterior aspect of the midbrain, there is a deep depression in the midline which is bounded on either side by the crus cerebri. This deep depression is called?

A

Interpeduncular fossa

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16
Q

Crus cerebi is also known as the

A

Cerebral peduncles

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17
Q

What is the dopamine producing cell / large motor nucleus that is situated in between the tegmentum, and the crus cerebri and is found throughout the midbrain?

A

Substantia nigra

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18
Q

It is the part of the midbrain posterior to the cerebral aqueduct

A

Tectum

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19
Q

The substantia nigra is composed of medium-size multipolar neurons that possess inclusion granules of ___ within their cytoplasm.

A

melanin pigment

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20
Q

On the anterolateral surface of the pons, what cranial nerve emerges on each side? Each of this cranial nerve consists of a smaller, medial part known as the motor root, and a larger, lateral part, known as the sensory root.

A

Trigeminal nerve / CN V

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21
Q

In the groove between the pons and the medulla oblongata, three cranial nerves emerge. Enumerate all from a medial to lateral order.

A
  1. Abducens nerve / CN VI
  2. Facial nerve / CN VII
  3. Vestibulocochlear nerve / CN VIII
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22
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: The brainstem contains the important nuclei of cranial nerves III through XI.

A

False

III through XII

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23
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: The brainstem contains important reflex centers associated with the control of respiration and the cardiovascular system and with the control of consciousness.

A

True

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24
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: The brainstem is a conduit for the ascending tracts and descending tracts connecting the spinal cord to the different parts of the higher centers of the brain

A

True

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25
Q

Junction of the medulla and spinal cord is at the origin of the anterior and posterior roots of the first cervical spinal nerve, which corresponds approximately to the level of the foramen magnum

A

Spinomedullary junction

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26
Q

The central canal of the spinal cord continues upward into the lower half of the medulla; in the upper half of the medulla, it expands as the cavity of the ___

A

Fourth ventricle

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27
Q

Found on each side of the median fissure on the anterior surface of the medulla. Composed of bundles of nerve fibers, called corticospinal fibers, which originate in large nerve cells in the precentral gyrus of the cerebral cortex.

A

Pyramids

28
Q

The pyramids taper inferiorly, and it is here that the majority of the descending fibers cross over to the opposite side, forming the ___

A

Decussation of the pyramids / great motor decussation

29
Q

Oval elevations produced by the underlying inferior olivary nuclei that are located posterolateral to the pyramids

A

Olives

30
Q

In the groove between the pyramid and the olive emerge the rootlets of which cranial nerve?

A

hypoglossal nerve / CN XII

31
Q

Located posterior to the olives and connect the medulla to the cerebellum.

A

inferior cerebellar peduncles

32
Q

In the groove between the olive and the inferior cerebellar peduncle emerge the roots of the which 3 cranial nerves?

A
  1. glossopharyngeal nerve / CN IX
  2. vagus nerve / CN X
  3. cranial roots of the accessory nerve / CN XI
33
Q

The posterior surface of the superior half of the medulla oblongata forms the lower part of the floor of the (1)__. The posterior surface of the inferior half of the medulla is continuous with the posterior aspect of the spinal cord and possesses a (2)__.

A
  1. fourth ventricle
  2. posterior median sulcus
34
Q

What are the few nerve fibers that emerge from the anterior median fissure above the decussation of the pyramids and pass laterally over the surface of the medulla oblongata to enter the cerebellum?

A

The anterior external arcuate fibers

35
Q

On each side of the median sulcus, there is an elongated swelling, the gracile tubercle, produced by the underlying gracile nucleus.
Lateral to the gracile tubercle is a similar swelling, the cuneate tubercle, produced by the underlying cuneate nucleus.

A

.

36
Q

Connects the pons superiorly with the spinal cord inferiorly

A

Medulla oblongata

37
Q

Enumerate the 6 nuclei which make up the vestibulocochlear nuclei complex at the level of the olives in the medulla

A

Vestibular nuclei complex:
1. Medial vestibular nucleus
2. Lateral vestibular nucleus
3. Superior vestibular nucleus
4. Inferior vestibular nucleus
Cochlear nuclei:
5. Anterior cochlear nucleus
6. Posterior cochlear nucleus

38
Q

At the level of the decussation of pyramids in the medulla, the substantia gelatinosa in the posterior gray column of the spinal cord becomes continuous with the inferior end of the nucleus of the ___.

A

spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve

39
Q

Connects the pons and cerebellum with the forebrain and its long axis inclines anteriorly as it ascends through the opening in the tentorium cerebelli.

A

Midbrain

40
Q

Enumerate the 4 structures passing through the cavernous sinus

A
  1. oculomotor nerve
  2. trochlear nerve
  3. abducens nerve
  4. ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve
41
Q

At the level of the olives in the medulla, the amount of gray matter has increased at this level owing to the presence of what structures?

A
  1. Olivary nuclear complex
  2. Nuclei of the vestibulocochlear, glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, and hypoglossal nerves
  3. Arcuate nuclei
42
Q

Enumerate the structures recognized in the central gray matter at the level of the olives in the medulla from medial to lateral order

A
  1. Hypoglossal nucleus
  2. Dorsal nucleus of vagus
  3. Nucleus of the tractus solitarius
  4. Medial and inferior vestibular nuclei
43
Q

This tract is situated near the surface in the interval between the inferior olivary nucleus and the nucleus of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve.

A

Anterior spinocerebellar tract

44
Q

Enumerate the 3 structures found in the midline at the level of the olives in the medulla

A
  1. medial lemniscus
  2. tectospinal tract
  3. medial longitudinal fasciculus
45
Q

The midbrain comprises two lateral halves, called the (1)___; each of these is divided into anterior (crus cerebri) and posterior (tegmentum) by a pigmented band of gray matter, the (2)___.

A
  1. cerebral peduncles
  2. substantia nigra
46
Q

Lateral to the sulcus limitans is the ___ produced by the underlying vestibular nuclei.

A

vestibular area

47
Q

The floor of the superior part of the sulcus limitans is bluish-gray in color and is called the ___; it owes its color to a group of deeply pigmented nerve cells.

A

substantia ferruginea

48
Q

There is a shallow groove in the midline of the anterior surface of the pons which lodges the basilar artery. This groove is called?

A

the basilar groove

49
Q

The anterior surface of the pons is convex from side to side and shows many transverse fibers that converge on each side to form the ___

A

middle cerebellar peduncle

50
Q

Main pathway that connects the vestibular and the cochlear nuclei with nuclei controlling the extraocular muscles (oculomotor, trochlear, and abducent nuclei)

A

medial longitudinal fasciculus

51
Q

Enumerate the 2 tracts that project efferent fibers to the superior colliculi and are responsible for the reflex movements of the eyes, head, and neck in response to visual stimuli

A
  1. tectospinal tract
  2. tectobulbar tract
52
Q

The afferent pathway for the light reflex and fibers from optic nerve end in the ___

A

pretectal nucleus

53
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: The superior colliculi receive afferent fibers from the optic nerve, the visual cortex, and the spinotectal tract.

A

True

54
Q

A rounded mass of gray matter situated between the cerebral aqueduct and the substantia nigra.

A

Red nucleus

Additional: Its reddish hue, seen in fresh specimens, is due to the vascularity and presence of an iron-containing pigment in the cytoplasm of many of its neurons

55
Q

At the level of the facial colliculus in the pons, what is made up of fibers derived from the cochlear nuclei and the nuclei of the trapezoid body?

A

Trapezoid body

56
Q

At the level of the facial colliculus in the pons, the basilar part of the pons contains small masses of nerve cells called ___.

A

pontine nuclei

57
Q

The ___ fibers of the crus cerebri of the midbrain terminate in the pontine nuclei. The axons of these cells give origin to the transverse fibers of the pons, which cross the midline and intersect the corticospinal and corticonuclear tracts, breaking them up into small bundles.

A

Corticopontine

58
Q

At the level of the facial colliculus in the pons, what structure forms the posterior boundary of the fourth ventricle?

A

Superior medullary velum

59
Q

Determine whether the fibers reaching or leaving the red nucleus is afferent or efferent

  1. Cerebral cortex through the corticospinal fibers
  2. Reticular formation through the rubrospinal tract
  3. Substantia nigra
  4. Lentiform nucleus, subthalamic and hypothalamic nuclei, substantia nigra, and spinal cord.
  5. Cerebellum through the superior cerebellar peduncle
  6. Thalamus

A. Afferent fibers reaching red nucleus
B. Efferent fibers leaving red nucleus

A
  1. A
  2. B
  3. B
  4. A
  5. A
  6. B
60
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: At the level of the superior colliculus in the midbrain, the medial, spinal, and trigeminal lemnisci form a curved band posterior to the substantia nigra. The lateral lemniscus does not extend superiorly to this level.

A

True

61
Q

The fibers of the facial nerve wind around the nucleus of the abducens nerve inside the pons, producing the ___.
The medial longitudinal fasciculus

The transverse fibers of the pons

A

facial colliculus

62
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: At the level of the facial colliculus in the pons, the facial nucleus, abducens nucleus, medial vestibular nucleus, superior part of the lateral and the inferior part of the superior vestibular nucleus, posterior and anterior cochlear nuclei, and spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve can be located.

A

True

63
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: At the level of the trigeminal nerve in the pons, the motor and principal sensory nuclei of the trigeminal nerve can be located.

A

True

64
Q

At the level of the inferior colliculus in the midbrain, the corticospinal and corticonuclear fibers occupy the (1)___ of the crus. The (2)___ fibers occupy the medial part of the crus, and the (3)___ fibers occupy the lateral part of the crus.

A
  1. middle two-thirds
  2. frontopontine
  3. temporopontine
65
Q

Aka the great sensory decussation that rotates as it passes from the medulla into the pons and is accompanied by the spinal and lateral lemnisci at the level of the facial colliculus in the pons

A

Medial lemniscus