Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Neuroscience > Week 2: The Brainstem > Flashcards

Week 2: The Brainstem Flashcards

(68 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Why is the brainstem of significant importance?

A
  • It carries almost all information between brain and rest of nervous system
  • it is the location of many crucial nuclei (which holds cranial nerve function, consciousness, cerebellar circuits, muscle tone, posture, autonomic function and the list goes on…
  • it hosts structures critical to basic survival
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 4 main components of the brainstem?

A
  1. Holds cranial nerve nuclei and related structures.
  2. Long tracts that contain descending motor pathways, ascending motor pathways and viscerosomatic pathways.
  3. Cerebellar circuitry
  4. Reticular formation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 3 main regions of the brainstem?

A

Midbrain
pons
medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Another name for midbrain is:

A

mesencephalon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 3 regions of the mesencephalon?

A

tectum
tegmentum
basis pedunculi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What two structures are located in the tectum?

A

superior colliculi

inferior colliculi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the orientation of the brain stem?

A

ventral or anterior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the orientation of this brain stem?

A

posterior or dorsal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the orientation of this brainstem?

A

lateral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Name this brainstem cross section:

A

Rostral midbrain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Name this brainstem cross section

A

Caudal Midbrain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Name this brainstem cross section

A

pontomesenphelic junction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Name this brainstem cross section:

A

Rostral Pons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Name this brainstem cross section:

A

caudal pons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Name this brainstem cross section:

A

Rostral Medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Name this brainstem cross section:

A

caudal medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is special about white and grey matter on these myelin stained specimens?

A

the way white matter and grey matter are flip flopped. white matter is grey matter and grey matter is white matter.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the major associations associated with the mesencephalon?

A 
vision
hearing
motor control
sleep and wake cycle
alertness
temperature regulation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What cranial nerves are located externally on the midbrain or mesencephalon?

A

Cranial nerve 3 and 4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Is the superior colliculi located more rostral or caudal in the midbrain?

A

rostral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

is the inferior colliculi located more caudal or rostral?

A

caudal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the 3 most basic layers of the midbrain?

A

Tectum
tegmentum
basis pedunculi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Name all of the structures located in the tegmentum (hint there are 9).

A
  1. multitude of ascending and descending tracts
  2. substantia nigra
  3. reticular formation
  4. ventral tegmental area
  5. red nuclei
  6. CN 3 oculomotor nuclei
  7. CN 4 trochlear nuclei
  8. Superior Cerebellar peduncles
  9. Raphe nuclei
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Name all of the structures located in the tegmentum (hint there are 9).

A
  1. multitude of ascending and descending tracts
  2. substantia nigra
  3. reticular formation
  4. ventral tegmental area
  5. red nuclei
  6. CN 3 oculomotor nuclei
  7. CN 4 trochlear nuclei
  8. Superior Cerebellar peduncles
  9. Raphe nuclei
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What are the 3 structures of the tegmentum that are only located in the cross section of the rostral midbrain?
ventral tegmental area red nuclei CN 3 oculomotor nuclei
26
What are the 3 structures that are only located in the cross section of the caudal midbrain?
CN 4 Trochlear nuclei Superior cerebellar peduncles Raphe nuclei
27
The Basis Pedunculi is a section of the midbrain that contains what structure?
Crus cerebri
28
The crus cerebri are:
large bundles of somatotopically organized axons containing fibers from motor pathways.
29
The cerebral peduncles consists of:
substantia nigra and the basis pedunculi
30
What cranial nerve emerges from the surface area of the pons?
CN 5 (trigeminal nerve)
31
The pons is associated with:
sleep respiration swallowing bladder control
32
The pons is divided into 2 regions:
the basilar pons | pontine tegmentum
33
what 2 structures are located within the basilar pons?
deep pontine nuclei | descending motor pathways to spinal cord and cerebellum
34
There are a lot of structures in the pontine tegmentum but they can be broken down into 8 groups or larger structures. What are the 8 structures?
1. reticular formation 2. cranial nerve nuclei 3. cerebellar peduncles 4. deep cerebellar peduncles 5. ascending sensory pathways 6. descending motor pathways 7. trapezoid body 8. additional important nuclei
35
What are the cranial nerve nuclei associated with the pontine tegmentum?
CN 5 nuclei (trigeminal) CN 6 nuclei (abducens) CN 7 nuclei (facial) CN 8 nuclei (vestibular)
36
Of the cranial nerve nuclei located in the pontine tegmentum. which ones are located in the CAUDAL pons?
trigeminal, abducens, facial and vestibular
37
Of the cranial nerve nuclei located in the pontine tegmentum. which ones are located in the ROSTRAL pons?
trigeminal and vestibular
38
What are the 3 cerebellar peduncles in the pontine tegmentum
superior, middle and inferior peduncles
39
Of the cerebellar peduncles located in the pontine tegmentum, which are located in the CAUDAL pons?
Superior, middle and inferior
40
Of the cerebellar peduncles located in the pontine tegmentum, which are located in the Rostral pons?
superior and middle
41
Are the deep cerebellar nuclei located caudally or rostrally?
caudal
42
is the trapezoid body located caudally or rostrally?
caudal
43
What are the names of the additional important nuclei located in the pontine tegmentum?
nucleus of Locus Ceruleus Raphe Nucleus superior olivary nucleus
44
Of the additional important nuclei in the pontine tegmentum, which of the nuclei are located rostrally?
nucleus of locus ceruleus | raphe nucleus
45
Of the additional important nuclei in the pontine tegmentum, which of the nuclei are located caudally?
superior olivary nucleus
46
The superior and middle cerebellar peduncles are located:
The caudal and rostral pontine tegmentum (or just the pontine tegmentum)
47
The inferior cerebellar peduncle is located only in the:
caudal pontine tegmentum
48
What cranial nerves emerge from the surface area of the medulla?
CN 6 - 12
49
Which part of the brain stem is considered to be the survival center?
medulla oblongata
50
What is the bridge between the brainstem and cerebellum?
cerebellar peduncles of the pontine tegmentum
51
At the trapezoid body, the fibers are in a decussation. This means that ______________ fibers cross.
auditory
52
why is it important to appreciate why fibers cross?
If there is a stroke above your caudal pons in your auditory pathway, the fibers have crossed from ear so there will be injury on the contralateral side. Below the caudal pons or the decussation, the impairment will be ipsilateral.
53
What is the medulla survival kit?
Heart Rate Blood Pressure Breathing Swallowing
54
Why is the medulla called the survival center?
Because it is responsible for the function of your cardiovascular, respiratory and vasomotor centers. It controls autonomic functions.
55
The Myelencephalon in the Medulla Oblongata is divided into:
Rostral and Caudal
56
What are the major 7 structures located in the Rostral Myelencephalon of the medulla oblongata?
1. Reticular Formation 2. Ascending tracts 3. Medullary pyramids 4. Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle 5. Open Medulla 6. Inferior olivary nuclei 7. cranial nerve nuclei
57
The medullary pyramids of the rostral medulla oblongata carries the:
major descending motor tracts
58
What cranial nerve nuclei are included in the rostral portion of the medulla oblongata?
CN 8 Vestibular Nuclei Nucleus Solitarius Nucleus Ambiguous Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus
59
What are the 8 major structures included in the caudal section of the myelencephalon of the medulla oblongata?
1. Central canal 2. Reticular Formation 3. Ascending tracts 4. Medullary pyramids 5. Cranial nerve nuclei 6. inferior olivary nuclei 7. medial lemniscus decussation 8. pyramidal decussation (Cervicomedullary junction)
60
The ascending tracts in the caudal myelencephalon of the medulla oblongata hold what important structures?
Nuclei Gracilis and Cuneatus
61
The medullary pyramids contains what important structure in the caudal myelencephalon?
Descending motor tracts
62
What cranial nerve nuclei are including in the myelencephalon?
``` CN 10 Vagus motor nuclei CN 12 Hypoglossal nuclei Nucleus solitarius Nucleus ambiguous CN 11 Spinal Accessory Nucleus ```
63
The reticular formation can best be compared to:
an on and off switch
64
What occurs if the Reticular Formation is damaged?
Coma or death
65
The reticular formation is an intricate system composed of:
loosely clustered neurons
66
The reticular formation extends through central core of:
medulla pons midbrain
67
The projections of the reticular formation can be found in the:
thalamus cerebellum spinal cord optic
68
What are the functions of the reticular formation?
1. General arousal and awareness 2. Reticular Activating System (RAS) - ------- synapses with all major ascending tracts - ------- functions in arousal from sleep 3. motor awareness - ------- medial and lateral reticulospinal tracts 4. autonomic regulation

Neuroscience (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions