INDS 212 Lecture Notes - Lecture 56: Anterior Grey Column, Cranial Nerve Nucleus, Reticular Formation

• School: McGill University
• Department: Interndisciplinary Studies
• Course: INDS 212
• Professor: Fraser Moore

Document Summary

Identify key anatomical structures on cross sections of midbrain, pons, medulla; review concept of nuclei and tracts: understand that brainstem lesions can cause focal manifestations, and relate this to vascular supply of brainstem. It"s the location of most cranial nerve nuclei: recognize characteristic clinical manifestations of brainstem lesions. Consists of midbrain, pons, medulla: a super-highway connecting brain to spinal cord, responsible for automatic/vital functions, consciousness. Ill-defined location/scattered but not everywhere in brainstem, so not every brainstem lesion causes loc. It"s in the medial/central brainstem: extends from mid-medulla to lower midbrain. Important role in consciousness: ras neurons project to thalamus, which project to cortex. Pyramidal tract = umn: descending umn axons, come from cortex, cross in lower medulla, descend in cord as lateral corticospinal tract, synapse on anterior horn cells, cn equivalent: cortico-bulbar (cortico-nuclear) Joint position, vibration, touch: cross in lower medulla, ascend to thalamus. Spinothalamic tract: pain and temperature, touch, cross at entry into cord, ascend to thalamus.