Overview of Brainstem Organization

Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen. Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish

Craig K. Henkel, Ph.D. Neurobiology and Anatomy x6-4379 ; chenkel@wfubmc.edu

Objectives
You should be able to:
Identify the surface features of the brainstem. Identify components of the ventricular system within each division of the brainstem and diencephalon. Identify the exit points of 12 pairs of cranial nerves. Using the surface features and ventricular system, be able to sketch and label cartoons of cross section through the spinal cord, medulla, pons, midbrain, and diencephalon. Trace the corticospinal tract from cortex to spinal cord. Trace the dorsal column pathway and anterolateral spinothalamic tract from the spinal cord to the cortex.

Terminology 101

In which image are the flags inferior? top or bottom

Which arrow points to the anterior side of the dog? Rostral side of the dog?

Which arrow indicates the posterior side of the telencephalon?

Terminology 102
Axons - white matter
column funiculus /fasciculus

brachium peduncle lemniscus Tract

nerve - PNS

Ipsilateral - same side Contralateral - opposite side Bilateral both sides Unilateral one side Decussation crossing point Chiasm partial crossing

Surface features of the brainstem

Brainstem: median sagittal plane

thalamus Pineal gland hypothalamus

folia

deep nuclei

vermis
cerebellar vermis Lateral hemisphere

BRAINSTEM DORSAL FEATURES

Thalamus diencephalon Pineal gland Superior colliculus Inferior colliculus Sup, mid, inf cerebellar peduncles medulla Dorsal column obex midbrain CN IV

pons

BRAINSTEM VENTRAL FEATURES

Diencephalon: thalamus

II

III
optic chiasm pituitary stalk mammillary body hypothalamus Midbrain

IV

cerebral peduncle
base of pons middle cerebellar peduncle olive pyramid Ventral medial fissure

Pons

VI
VII VIII IX X
Olive

XII
Medulla

XI

Preolivary sulcus

MEDULLA
4th ventricle

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

reticular formation CNs exit preand postolivary sulcus

olive pyramid

PONS (1)
Deep cerebellar nuclei

vermis

4th ventricle

Middle cerebellar peduncle

reticular formation

Basilar pons

Corticospinal and corticobulbar fibers

MIDBRAIN
Superior colliculus Tectum

thalamus Red N tegmentum Base of cerebral peduncle

CN III Interpeduncular fossa

Red nucleus

Diencephalon

corpus callosum

basal ganglia

3
thalamus and hypothalamus

internal capsule

Testing Vibration: Medial Lemniscus

Testing Vibration:

Medial Lemniscus
Fasiculus Cuneatus Gracilis Nucleus Gracilis

Testing Vibration: Medial Lemniscus

Nucleus Gracilis

Testing Vibration: Medial Lemniscus

Testing Vibration: Medial Lemniscus

Testing Vibration: Medial Lemniscus

Primary Sensory Cortex

Thalamus VPL

Testing Pain:

Testing Pain:

Testing Movement & Reflexes:

Corticospinal Tract

Corticospinal Tract

Corticospinal Tract

Corticospinal Tract

Corticospinal Tract