The brain stem

The brain

Telencephalon Diencephalon Cerebellum Brain stem

The brain stem

Consists of Midbrain Pons Medulla oblongata

Medulla oblongata
Ventral surface

Pyramid: contain
pyramidal tract (corticospinal tract) Decussation of pyramid : formed by crossing fibers of
corticospinal tract

Olive: produced by underlying

inferior olivary nucleus

Anterolateral sulcus:
rootlets of hypoglossal nerve emerge from it

Retroolivary sulcus:
rootlets of glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory nerves emerge from it

Medulla oblongata
Dorsal surface

Lower portion

Gracile tubercle:
produced by underlying

gracile

nucleus

Cuneate tubercle:
marks the site of

cuneate nucleus

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

Obex

Upper portion: forms the lower

half of rhomboid fossa

Pons
Ventral surface

Basilar part Basilar sulcus Bulbopontine sulcus : from medial to lateral,

the abducent, facial and vestibulocochlear nerves appear

Middle cerebellar peduncle

Trigeminal nerve Pontocerebellar trigone : the junction of

medulla, pons and cerebellum

Pons
Dorsal surface

Superior cerebellar peduncle Superior medullary velum Trochlear nerve

Midbrain
Ventral surface

Crus cerebri Interpeduncular fossa oculomotor nerves

emerge from medial of crus cerebri

Posterior perforated substance

Midbrain
Dorsal surface

Superior colliculus constitute centers for visual reflexes Inferior colliculus associated with auditory pathway Brachium of superior colliculi Brachium of inferior colliculi

Fourth ventricle
Central canal fourth ventricle mesencephalic aqueductthird ventricle

Position

Situated ventral to cerebellum, and dorsal to pons and cranial half of medulla

Boundaries

Inferolateral: gracile and cuneate tubercles, inferior cerebellar peduncle Superolateral: superior cerebellar peduncle Lateral recess

Features

Median sulcus Sulcus limitans Vestibular area

overlies vestibular nuclei

Acoustic tubercle
overlying dorsal cochlear nucleus

Medial eminence Striae medullares

Facial colliculus:
overlies nucleus of abducent n. and genu of facial nerve

Hypoglossal triangle : verlying

hypoglossal nucleus

Vagal triangle:
overlies dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve

Funiculus separans Area postrema Locus ceruleus

Roof

Anterior part: formed by superior cerebellar peduncle and superior medullary velum Posterior part: formed by inferior medullary velum and choroid plexus of fourth ventricle Three apertures

Median aperture of fourth ventricle Two lateral apertures of fourth ventricle

Tela choroidea and choroid plexus

Internal structures
Gray matter

Cranial nerve nuclei Relay nuclei

General somatic motor nuclei

Nucleus of oculomotor n.

Nucleus of trochlear n.

Nucleus of abducent n.

Nucleus of hypoglossal n.

General somatic motor nuclei

Nucleus Nucleus of Oculomotor n. Nucleus of trochlear n. Nucleus of abducent n. Nucleus of hypoglossal n. Midbrain Pons Medulla Site Midbrain Cranial n. Function
Supreior, inferior,and medial recti, inf. obliquus, levator palpebrae superioris

Superior obliquus Lateral rectus Muscles of tongue

Special visceral motor nuclei

Motor nucleus of trigeminal n.

Nucleus of facial n.

Nucleus ambiguus

Accessory nucleus

Special visceral motor nuclei

Nucleus Motor nucleus of trigeminal n. Site Pons Cranial n. Function Masticatory muscles

Nucleus of facial n. Pons

Facial m., platysma, posterior belly of digastric, stylohyoid, stapedius

Skeletal m. of pharynx, larynx and upper part of esophagus Sternocleidomastoid, trapezius

Nucleus ambiguus

Medulla

,.

Accessory nucleus

Medulla cervical cord

General visceral motor nuclei

Accessory oculomotor nucleus

Superior salivatory nucleus Inferior salivertory nucleus Dorsal nucleus of vagus n.

General visceral motor nuclei

Nucleus Accessory oculomotor nucleus Superior salivatory nucleus Inferior salivertory nucleus Dorsal nucleus of vagus n. Site Midbrain Pons Cranial n. Function Sphincter pupillae and ciliary m. Submandibular, sublingual and lacrimal glands Parotid gland Many cervical, thoracic and abdominal viscera

Medulla medulla

Visceral sensory nuclei

( general and special )

Nucleus of solitary tract

Visceral sensory nuclei ( general and special )

Nucleus

Site

Cranial n.

Function

Nucleus of solitary tract

Medulla

,,

Taste and visceral sensation

General somatic sensory nuclei

Mesencephalic nucleus of trigeminal n. Pontine nucleus of trigeminal n.

Spinal nucleus of trigeminal n.

General somatic sensory nuclei

Nucleus Mesencephalic nucleus of trigeminal n. Pontine nucleus of trigeminal n. Site Midbrain Cranial n. Function Proprioception of head Tactile sensation of head Pain and temperature sense of head

Pons

Spinal nucleus of Medulla trigeminal n.

Special somatic sensory nuclei

Cochlear nuclei Vestibular nuclei

Special somatic sensory nuclei

Nucleus Site Cranial n. Function

Cochlear nuclei
Vestibular nuclei

Pons and medulla

Pons and medulla

Sense of hearing

Sense of equilibrium

Relay nuclei

Gracile nucleus Cuneate nucleus Inferior olivary nucleus Superior olivery nucleus Pontine nucleus Nucleus of inferior colliculus Gray matter layers of superior colliculus Red nucleus Substantia nigra Pretectal area

Non-cranial nerve nuclei

Nucleus Gracile nucleus Cuneate nucleus Superior olivery nucleus Pontine nucleus Nucleus of inferior colliculus Gray matter layers of superior colliculus Red nucleus Site Medulla (underneath gracile tubercle) Medulla (underneath cuneate tubercle) Pons pons Midbrain Midbrain Midbrain

Substantia nigra
Pretectal area

Midbrain
Midbrain

White matter
Ascending tracts

Medial lemniscus Spinal lemniscus Trigeminal lemniscus Lateral lemniscus

Medial lemniscus

Spinal lemniscus

Trigeminal lemniscus

Descending tracts

Corticospinal tract

Rubrospinal tract Tectospinal tract Vestibulospinal tract

Reticulospinal tract

Lateral lemniscus

Reticular formation of brain stem

Ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) Motor central and vital centres

Reticulospinal tract Cardiovascular center and respiratory center

Serotonergic rapheal nuclei

The characters of internal structure of brain stem

Medulla oblongata
Lower part (closed part) Two decussations

Decussations of medial lemniscus Decussations of pyramid

Medulla oblongata
Upper part (open part)

Appearance of inferior olivary nuculeus and inferior cerebellar peduncle Enlargement of central canal to form the fourth ventricle floor

Pons

Tegmentum of pons
directed upward continuation of medulla oblongata

Basilar part
contain both longitudinal and transverse fibers intermixed with pontine nuclei

Midbrain

Rectum of midbrain:
includes superior and inferior colliculi

Cerebral peduncle

Tegmentum :

contain ascending tracts, central gray matter, recticular formation and so on

Substentia nigra Crus cerebri :

Pyramidal tract middle

three-fifths of the crus:

Frontopontine tract medial

one-fifth:

pariatotempopontine tract
lateral one-fifth