Organisation of brainstem and cranial nerves

Question 1

What makes up the brainstem

Answer 1

Part of the CNS between the cerebrum and spinal cord (-cerebellum)
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata

Question 2

What are the roles of the colliculi and where are they found

Answer 2

Found on the posterior surface of the brainstem
superior - coordinated neck and eye movement
Inferior colliculus - auditory reflexes

Question 3

Which cranial nerve emerges from the back brainstem

Answer 3

IV, trochlear nerve

Question 4

Where is the 4th ventricle

Answer 4

Posterior surface of the pons (floor)

Question 5

What is found on the posterior surface of the medullla

Answer 5

Dorsal columns

Question 6

What is found immediately below the optic chiasm

Answer 6

Pituitary stalk

Question 7

What forms the base of the hypothalamus

Answer 7

Mammillary bodies

Question 8

What is the role of the trigeminal nerve and where does it emerge

Answer 8

Completely from the lateral part of the pons

touch sensation throughout head and neck + motor function

Question 9

Which cranial nerves emerge from the medulla and what are their roles

Answer 9

Abducens - eye
Facial - face
Vestibulocochlear - balance and hearing

Question 10

What are the roles of the glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory nerves

Answer 10

Glossopharyngeal – tongue, swallowing, pharynx, mastication
Vagus - parasympathetic autonomic output
Accessory – shoulder muscles and sternocleidomastoid

Question 11

What is the role of the hypoglossal nerve

Answer 11

tongue – all tongue muscles

Question 12

What is the cerebral penduncle

Answer 12

Corticospinal tract that emerges as the pyramidal decussation

Question 13

What are the cranial nerves that emerge form the anterior surface of the brainstem

Answer 13

Optic chiasm 
Oculomotor 
Trigeminal
Glossopharyngeal 
Vagus
Accessory 
Hypoglossal 
Abducens
Facial
Vestibulocochlear

Question 14

What are the functional classifications for afferent nerves

Answer 14

General somatic afferent (GSA) - sensation from skin and mucous membranes

General visceral afferent (GVA) - sensation from GI tract, heart, vessels & lungs

Special somatic afferent - vision, hearing & equilibrium

Special visceral afferent - smell & taste

Question 15

What are the functional classifications for efferent nerves

Answer 15

General somatic efferent (GSE) - muscles for eye & tongue movements

General visceral efferent (GVE) - preganglionic parasympathetic

Special visceral efferent
muscles involved in chewing, facial expression, swallowing, vocal sounds & turning head

Question 16

Which nuclei emerge as GSE nerves

Answer 16

Oculomotor
Trochlear
Abducens
Hypoglossal

Question 17

Which nuclei emerge as SVE nerves

Answer 17

Trigeminal
Facial
Ambiguus
Accessory

Question 18

Which nuclei emerge as GVE nerves

Answer 18

Edinger westphal
Salivatory
Salivatory, vagus

Question 19

Which nuclei emerge as SSA nerves

Answer 19

Vestibulocochlear

Question 20

Which nuclei emerge as GSA nerves

Answer 20

Trigeminal

Question 21

Which nuclei emerge as GVA/SVA nerves

Answer 21

Solitarius

Question 22

What are the distinguishing features of the midbrain

Answer 22

Looks like Mickey Mouse
Cerebral aqueduct (only present here)
Substantia nigra
Cerebral peduncle (ears of mm)
Inferior colliculus

Question 23

What are the distinguishing features of the pons

Answer 23

Transverse fibres
4th ventricle (floor)
Middle cerebellar peduncle (where the pons connects to the cerebellum)

Question 24

What are the distinguishing features of the medulla

Answer 24

Pyramids

Inferior olivary nucleus (distinctive wavy shape)

Question 25

What are the distinguishing features of the lower medulla

Answer 25

Start of the central canal of the spinal cord
Dorsal columns
Pyramidal decussation (fibres crossing over)

Question 26

What occurs in lateral medullary syndrome

Answer 26

Thrombosis of vertebral artery or Posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Question 27

What are the symptoms of lateral medullary syndrome

Answer 27

Vertigo
Ipsilateral cerebellar ataxia
Ipsilateral loss of pain/thermal sense (face)
Horner’s syndrome
Hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing
Contralateral loss of pain/thermal sense (trunk and limbs)

Question 28

Which cranial nerves are involved in lateral medullary syndrome and which symptoms do they produce

Answer 28

Vestibular - vertigo
Inferior cerebellar peduncle - ataxia
Spinal nerve (trigeminal) - loss of pain/thermal sense
N Ambiguus - hoarseness and difficulty swallowing
Spinothalamic tract - contralateral loss of pain
Sympathetic tract - Horner’s

Question 29

Where are the nuclei for the oculomotor nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 29

Midbrain as GSE

Question 30

Where are the nuclei for the Trochlear nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 30

Midbrain as GSE

Question 31

Where are the nuclei for the Trigeminal nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 31

Midbrain, Pons, medulla and cervical spinal cord as GSA

Pons as SVE

Question 32

Where are the nuclei for the Abducens nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 32

Pons as GSE

Question 33

Where are the nuclei for the Facial nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 33

Pons as SVE

Question 34

Where are the nuclei for the Vestibulocochlear nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 34

Pons and Medulla as SSA

Question 35

Where are the nuclei for the Vagus nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 35

Medulla as GVE

Question 36

Where are the nuclei for the Accessory nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 36

Cervical spinal cord as SVE

Question 37

Where are the nuclei for the Hypoglossal nerve and what is its functional classification

Answer 37

Medulla as GSE