The Brainstem Flashcards

1
Q

What is the basilar circus?

A

Shallow sulcus where the basilar artery runs

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2
Q

What is the bulbopontine sulcus?

A

The line between the pons and the medulla

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3
Q

What is the anterior median fissure?

A

The line down the front of the medulla

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4
Q

What happens at the decussation of pyramids?

A

80% of descending corticospinal fibres cross over the midline

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5
Q

What is the ventral lateral sulcus?

A

The groove dividing the pyramid and the olive- it is where the rootlets of the hypoglossal nerve exit

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6
Q

What are the two main divisions of the midbrain?

A

Dorsal tectum and ventral tegmentum

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7
Q

What is the medulla?

A

Conical continuation of the spinal cord within the skull, beginning at the foramen magnum.

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8
Q

Where does the dorsal tectum lie?

A

Dorsal to the aqueduct of the midbrain and the fourth ventricle

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9
Q

Where does the ventral tegmentum lie?

A

Ventral to the aqueduct of the midbrain and the fourth ventricle

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10
Q

What is the interpeducular fossa?

A

The space between the crus cerebri

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11
Q

What are the cerebral peduncles/crus cerebri?

A

A large collection of fiber bundles in the ventral midbrain, which originate in the cerebral cortex

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12
Q

What are mammillary bodies?

A

Small round bodies, located on the undersurface of the brain that, as part of the diencephalon, form part of the limbic system

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13
Q

What is a pyramid?

A

An elongated swelling (eminence) marking the position of the underlying fibres passsing from the cerebral hemisphere to the cord, the corticospinal tracts

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14
Q

What is the decussation of the pyramids?

A

Diagonally oriented bundles of fibres crossing the fissure, where 80% of corticospinal fibres corss the midline to enter the opposite lateral white column of the spinal cord

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15
Q

What is the olive?

A

A swelling (eminence) caused by the presence of the underlying inferior olivary nucleus and is concerned with the control of movement

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16
Q

What is the inferior cerebellar peduncle?

A

A thick bundle of white matter passing into the cerebellum whihc forms the posterolateral margin of the medulla

17
Q

What is the tectum?

A

The midbrain dorsal to the aqueduct, it is made up of the colliculi (aka the corpora quadrigemina)

18
Q

What is the tegmentum?

A

The midbrain ventral to the aqueduct, it is made up of nerve fibres entering and leaving the cerebral hemispheres, nerve nuclei etc

19
Q

What is the superior colliculi?

A

Part of the visual system concerned with eye reflexes

20
Q

What is the inferior colliculi?

A

Part of the autitory system concerned with the reflex of looking towards a loud noise

21
Q

What is the superior cerebellar peduncle?

A

A fibre bundle passing from the cerebellum to the midbrain

22
Q

What is the pineal gland?

A

An endocrine gland that synthesises melatonin whihc modulates sleep patterns in both circadiam and seasonal cycles

23
Q

What does the inferior brachium do?

A

Conveys auditory information from the medial geniculate body to the inferior colliculi

24
Q

What does the superior brachium do?

A

Conveys visual information form the lateral geniculate body to the superior colliculi

25
Q

What is the gracile tubercle?

A

A round swelling on either side of the medulla midline overlying the gracile fasciculus

26
Q

What is the gracile fasciculus involved in?

A

Involved in carryin fine touch, vibration, two-point discrimination and proprioception from the lower limb

27
Q

What is the cuneate tubercle?

A

A swelling lateral to the gracile tubercles, overlying the cuneate fasciculus

28
Q

What is the cuneate fasciculus invovled in?

A

Involved in carrying fine touch, vibration, two-point discrimination and proprioception from the upper limb

29
Q

What cranial nerve nuclei does the tegmentum carry ?

A

Carries the nuclei of:

Abducens (6)
Facial (7)
Trigeminal (5- motor division- muscles of mastication)
Glossopharyngeal (9)
Vagus (10)
Accessory (11)
Hypoglossal (12)

30
Q

What is the floor of the 4th ventricle called?

A

Rhomboid fossa

31
Q

What connects the third anf fourth ventricles

A

The cerebral aqueduct runs through the midbrain and interconnects the third and fourth ventricles

32
Q

What is the substantia nigra?

A

A black band of nerve cells overlying the crus cerebri (cerebral peduncles), ventro-lateral to the red nucleus on each side

33
Q

What is the red nucelus?

A

A circular mass of grey matter ventro-lateral to the cerebral aqueduct, often appears pink

34
Q

The nuclei underlying the gracile and cuneate tubercles are called the dorsal column and are a major relay site for which pathway?

A

Dorsal column sensory pathway

aka dorsal column medial lemniscal system

35
Q

What is Bell’s Palsy?

A

Acute unilateral inflammation of the facial nerve (lower motor neurone)

Symptoms:
Pain behind ear
Paralysis of facial muscles
Failure to close the eyes

Signs:
Absent corneal reflex
Hyperacusis (certain sounds heard unpleasantly loudly)
Lodd of taste on anterior 2/3s pf tongue

36
Q

What is Bulbar Palsy?

A

Impairment of the functions of the cranial nerves that arise from the medulla (Nerves 9-12). Caused by motor nuerone disease and Guillain-Barre syndrome

Symptoms:
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Slurring of speech
Dysphonia (difficulty forming sounds)
Excess saliva- dribbling

Signs:
Wasting and fasciculating tongue
Absent gag reflex

37
Q

What is central pontine myelinoysis?

A

Destruction of myelin in the pons- occurs when low sodium levels are corrected too quickly

Symptoms:
Confusion
Balance problems
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Hallucinations
Reduced consciousness
Slurred speech
Tremor and weakness in the face or limbs