brainstem nuclei and tracts

Question 1

are descending tracts motor or sensory

Answer 1

motor

Question 2

are ascending tracts motor or sensory

Answer 2

sensory

Question 3

brainstem

Answer 3

• a pathway for tracts running between higher and lower neural centers
• located between cerebrum and spinal cord
• produces automatic behaviors necessary for survival

Question 4

brainstem consists of …

Answer 4

deep gray matter surrounded by white matter fiber tracts

Question 5

which nerves are in the pontomedullary junction

Answer 5

• trigeminal nerve
• abducens nerve
• facial nerve
• vestibulocochlear nerve

Question 6

three levels of motor and sensory pathways

Answer 6

1. cortex/basal ganglia/ cerebellum/thalamus
2. brainstem
3. spinal cord

Question 7

corticobulbar tract

Answer 7

from the cortex to the brainstem

Question 8

corticospinal tracts

Answer 8

from the cortex to the spinal cord

Question 9

primary motor pathways

Answer 9

• corticobulbar
• corticospinal tracts

Question 10

lateral corticospinal tract function

Answer 10

conveys commands to the body (playing the piano, tap dancing)

Question 11

anterior corticospinal tract function

Answer 11

controls trunk muscles (core exercises)

Question 12

what do the 3 levels of sensory pathways recieve input from

Answer 12

sensory receptors

Question 13

direct connection between the cerebellum, basal ganglia, and final common pathway

Answer 13

none

Question 14

feedback loops involving two independent subcortical systems …

Answer 14

modulate activity at the brainstem and cortical levels

Question 15

what does the cerebral aqueduct separate

Answer 15

anterior and posterior midbrain

Question 16

substantial nigra function

Answer 16

• dopamine production to inhibit the basal nuclei excitatory neurons
• voluntary movement

Question 17

midbrain nuclei

Answer 17

• red nuclei
• nuclei of cranial nerves 3 and 4
• substantial nigra

Question 18

red nuclei

Answer 18

• contains numerous blood vessels
• receives info from the cerebrum and cerebellum
• issues subconscious motor commands concerned with muscle tone and posture

Question 19

midbrain tracts

Answer 19

• motor tracts
• sensory axons
• cerebral peduncles

Question 20

midbrain motor tract

Answer 20

• include pyramidal system
• pass downward on the midbrain’s ventral surface

Question 21

midbrain sensory axons

Answer 21

• including spinothalamic tract
• ascend along the dorsal midbrain

Question 22

midbrain cerebral peduncles

Answer 22

• efferent projections include corticobulbar and corticospinal axons

Question 23

corpora quadrigemina parts

Answer 23

• two superior colliculi
• two inferior colliculi

Question 24

superior colliculi

Answer 24

• visual system
• relaying input from the optic tract to the lateral geniculate bodies of the thalamus

Question 25

inferior colliculi

Answer 25

- auditory pathway - send information to the medial geniculate bodies of the thalamas

Question 26

reticular activating system

Answer 26

present throughout the brainstem and is involved in the sleep-wake cycle

Question 27

pons nuclei

Answer 27

- sensory and motor nuclei for trigeminal, abducens, facial, and vestibulocochlear nerves - apneustic and pneumotaxic centers work with the medulla (maintains respiratory rythym) - raphe nuclei - reticular activing system

Question 28

pons tracts

Answer 28

- superior, middle, and inferior cerebellar peduncles - motor and sensory tracts traverse the anterior surface of the pons - sensory fibers are posterior to the motor fibers

Question 29

medulla nuclei

Answer 29

- autonomic nuclei - sensory and motor nuclei of glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory, and hypoglossal nerves - relay nuclei

Question 30

medulla autonomic nuclei

Answer 30

- cardiovascular (alter rate and force of cardiac contractions, alter the tone of vascular smooth muscle) - respiratory rhythmicity centers (receive input from the pons) - additional centers (emesis, deglutition, coughing, hiccuping, and sneezing)

Question 31

medulla relay nuclei

Answer 31

- nucleus gracilis - nucleus cuneatus - olivary nuclei

Question 32

nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus

Answer 32

pass somatic sensory information to the thalamas

Question 33

olivary nuclei

Answer 33

relay info from the spinal cord, cerebral cortex, and the brainstem to the cerebellar cortex

Question 34

medulla tracts

Answer 34

corticospinal tracts

Question 35

what forms the medullary pyramids

Answer 35

large motor corticospinal tracts