Neuroanatomy 2 SDL: Brainstem, Cerebellum and Cranial Nerves Flashcards
(130 cards)
What are the 5 major subdivisions of the brain?
- Telencephalon
- Diencephalon
- Mesencephalon
- Metencephalon
- Myelencephalon
Which of the five major subdivisions of the brain make up the brainstem?
- Mesencephalon –> midbrain
- Metencephalon –> pons
- Myelencephalon –> medulla
On the diagram of the ventral view of the brainstem, below:
- identify the cranial nerve stumps in yellow and label each nerve with its name and number.
- label the structures indicated by pointers and their function

- Cerebral peduncles:
- Connects the remainder of the brainstem to the thalami. They are paired and contain the large white matter tracts that run to and from the cerebrum
- Motor function
- Connects the remainder of the brainstem to the thalami. They are paired and contain the large white matter tracts that run to and from the cerebrum
- Interpeduncular fossa:
- Separates the two cerebral peduncles
- Olive:
- Contains the inferior olivary nucleus, implicated in motor co-ordination
- Pyramid:
- Contain the motor fibers that pass from the brain to the medulla oblongata and spinal cord
- Decussation of pyramids
- Point at the junction of the medulla and spinal cord where the motor fibres from the medullary pyramids cross the midline.
- The fibres then continue into the spinal cord primarily as the corticospinal tract.

Brainstem location of the:
- Cerebral peduncles
- Interpeduncular fossa
- Basilar groove
- Pyramids
- Pyramidal decussation
- Olives
- Midbrain
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla
- Junction of medulla and spinal cord
- Medulla
What name is given to the ridge that is visible on either side of the ventral midline of the medulla? What fibres is it formed by? What type of information do the fibres carry?
- Medullary pyramids
- Accumulation of descending nerve fibres
- Motor information
What does decussate mean?
Shaped like an X
Where do most of the descending fibres that make up the medullary pyramids cross?
Decussate the midline of the CNS at the caudal end of the medulla –> decussation of pyramids
What structure does the decussation of pyramids partially obliterate?
The anterior median fissure

Label the structures on the following dorsal view of a brainstem. What is their function?


Brainstem location
- Gracile tubercle + gracile fascicle
- Cuneate tubercle + cuneate fascicle
- Inferior cerebellar peduncle
- Middle cerebellar peduncle
- Superior cerebellar peduncle
- Inferior colliculus
- Superior colliculus
- Posterior side of the closed medulla at the floor of the fourth ventricle
- It lies lateral to the gracile tubercle/fascicle in the medulla
- Medulla
- Connect the cerebellum to the pons
- Junction of pons and midbrain
- Midbrain
- Posterior midbrain
In which region(s) of the brainstem is the central canal expanded to form the fourth ventricle?
junction between the pons and medulla oblongata.

What are the distinguishing features of the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata?
- Pyramids
- Olives
- Anterior median fissure separating the pyramids
- Anterolateral sulcus
- Posterolateral sulcus

What are the pyramids of the medulla? What are they separated by?
- Two pyramids - bulges of white matter
- Separated by anterior median fissure.
- Contain descending fibres for motor control.
- Interrupted at the decussation of the pyramids.

What structure is located lateral to the pyramids?
Olives
What separates the olives and the pyramids?
The anterolateral sulcus

Which sulcus is found dorsal to the olives? Which cranial nerves emerge here?
The posterolateral sulcus - CN X and CN IX emerge here

Which cranial nerves emerge at the anterolateral sulcus?
CN XII
What are the distinguishing features of the ventral surface of the pons?
- Cerebellopontine angle
- Pontomedullary junction
- Midline ‘basilar’ groove for basilar artery

What is the cerebellopontine angle? Which cranial nerves emerge here?
Located between the cerebellum and the pons - CN VII and CN VIII emerge here

What is the pontomedullary junction? Which cranial nerves emerge here?
Between the lower border of the pons and the superior border of the medulla - CN VI emerges here (straight, travelling anteriorly)

Where does CN V emerge from?
Cranial nerve V: trigeminal – originates from the lateral aspect of mid pon

What are the distinguishing features of the ventral surface of the midbrain?
- Cerebral peduncles
- Interpeduncular fossa

What are the cerebral peduncles?
- Connect to the cerebrum
- 2 of them –> crus cerebri
- Contain descending and ascending fibres
What is found between the 2 cerebral peduncles?
Interpeduncular fossa
















