Brain Stem

1. Brain stem consists of Medulla oblongata Pons Mid brain

2. Occupies the posterior cranial fossa. 3. Connects forebrain with the spinal cord.

Abducent nerve Motor root Facial Nerve Sensory root

Pons
Roots of Trigeminal nerve

Vestibulocochlear nerve Glossopharyngeal Nerve Roots of Vagus Hypoglossal nerve

Anterior Median fissure Pyramid Olive Medulla

Cranial roots Spinal root of accessory

Decussation of Pyramid

Anterior view of Medulla and Pons

3 Broad functions: Serves as a conduit for ascending and descending tracts Tracts connect the spinal cord to the different parts of the higher centres in the forebrain. Contains important higher centres associated with control of respiration and cardiovascular system. Contains important cranial nerve nuclei.

Medulla
Continuation of the upper portion of the spinal cord Junction of the medulla and the spinal cord is at the level of the origin of the 1st cervical nerve. Forms the inferior part of the brain stem. Lies just superior to the foramen magnum. Extends to the inferior portion of the Pons(3Cm.). Central canal of the spinal cord continues onto the lower medulla as the fourth ventricle

 contains all ascending and descending tracts connect the spinal cord with various parts of the brain.

**the tracts cross over from one side to the other as they pass through the medulla.
On the ventral side two bulges- Pyramids contain large motor tracts passing from cerebral cortex to the spinal cord.

 Most of the fibres on the left, cross to the right and vice versa at the decussation of the pyramid.
The crossed fibres, descend in the lateral white columns of the spinal cord, ending in the anterior grey horns. synapse occur with motor nerves which supply skeletal muscles.

 **fibres originate from one side of the cerebral cortex activate muscles of the opposite side of the body.

Dorsal side of the medulla 2 pairs of prominent nuclei Nucleus Gracilis

Nucleus Cuneatus They receive sensory fibres from ascending tracts ( R/L fasciculus gracilis and cuneatus) relay the sensory information to thalamus on the opposite side.

Median sulcus Floor of fourth ventricle Stria medullaris Cuneate tubercle Gracile tubercle Posterior median sulcus Central canal

Pons

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

Vestibular area Hypoglossal triangle

Vagal triangle
Entrance to central canal

Posterior viewMedulla

 Information is conveyed to the sensory areas of the cerebral cortex. Nearly all sensory impulses initiated on one side of the body cross in to spinal cord or medulla. finally received in the cerebral cortex of the opposite side.

Regions within the medulla regulate several vital body functions. 1. Cardiovascular centre regulates- rate and force of heartbeat. diameter of blood vessels. 2. Respiratory centre adjusts basic rhythm of breathing

3. Other centres
coordinate swallowing, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, hiccuping.

Medulla also contain nuclei of origin for several cranial nerves 1. 8th Nerve - Cochlear and vestibular nuclei
(nuclei in the Pons also) concerned with hearing and equilibrium 2. 9th nerve Glossopharyngeal nucleus Relay nerve impulses for swallowing,salivation and taste.

3. 10th nerve- Vagus

relay nerve impulses to and from thoracic and abdominal viscera. 4. 11th nerve- Accessory- cranial portion nerve impulses related to head and shoulder. 5. 12th nerve hypoglossal nerve impulses involve tongue movement On the lateral surface Olive Nuclei in the olive- 1.inferior olivary nucleus

2. Dorsal and medial accessory olivary nuclei

They carry signals that inferior olivary nucleus connect to the cerebellum by paired inferior cerebellar peduncles. ensure the efficiency of precise, voluntary movements. Maintain equilibrium and posture. As many vital functions are controlled by the medulla, hard blow on the back of the head and neck can be fatal.

Medulla- level of decussation of Pyramids

Posterior median sulcus F. gracilis N. gracilis Cuneatus Nucleus cuneatus Spinal tract Lateral corticospinal tract Spinal nucleus of Trigeminal Cranial root 11th Nerve

Postrior spinocerebellar tract Lateral spinothalamic tract

Anterior Central canal spinocerebellar A tract

Medial longitudinal fasciculus edial accessory olivary nucleus Decussation Anterior median fissure

Medulla- level of decussation of medial lemnisci Central canal

Hypoglossal nucleus Medial longitudinal fasciculus Accessory Nerve

Fasciculus gracilis Nucleus gracilis Fasciculus cuneatus Nucleus cuneatus Internal arcuate fibres Spinal tract Spinal Nucleus of trigeminal

Posterior spinocerebellar tract Lateral spinothalamic tract

Anterior spinocerebellar Decussation of tract Medial lemnisci

Pyramids

Hypoglossal Nerve

Inf. olivary nucleus

Medulla at middle of Olivary nucleus

Dorasl vagal Nucleus
Medial longitudinal fasciculus Reticular formation Nucleus ambiguus Ant. Spinocerebellar tract Hypoglossal Nucleus Fourth ventricle

Medial vestibular nucleus Lateral VN.

Posterior cochlear N. Inferior cerebellar peduncle Spinal tract & nucleus of V Anterior cochlear Nucleus Inferior olivary nucleus

Lateral spinothalamic tract Tectospinal tract Medial lemniscus

Arcuate nuclei

Pyramid

PONS
lies directly above the medulla. anterior to the cerebellum. contain both nuclei and tracts of white fibres. is a bridge connecting the spinal cord with the brain and parts of the brain with each other. two parts posterior tegmentum anterior basal part- trapezoid body two kinds of fibres running in two principle directions.

Groove for basilar artery Superficial Pontine fibres Trigeminal M S Nerve Abducent nerve Cerebral peduncles of mid brain

Facial nerve

Pons

Olive Accessory Nerve Hypoglossal nerve Pyramid

Anterior surface of Brain stem

Posterior surface of Brain stem showing Pons Cerebellum removed

Substantia ferruginea

Median sulcus Superior Cerebellar peduncle

Medial eminence Sulcus limitans Vestibular area Facial colliculus Striae medullares

Trochlear nerve Middle Cerebellar peduncle

Mid brain

Pons

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

Medulla

transverse fibres are paired fibre bundles that connect right and left sides of cerebellum middle cerebellar peduncle. Longitudinal fibres - motor and sensory tracts which connect medulla with the upper part of brainstem.

Nuclei of certain cranial nerves contained in the pons. 1. Trigeminal nerve (V) relay nerve impulses for chewing. sensations for head and face

Medial longitudinal fasciculus

Fourth ventricle

Superior medullary velum Superior cerebellar peduncle Vestibular nucleus Superior cerebellar peduncle Reticular formation Spinal tract and Nucleus of V

Facial Colliculus

Abducent nucleus

Facial motor nucleus Medial lemniscus

Transverse pontine fibres

Facial Nerve
Abducent Nerve Cortico spinal & corticonuclear fibres

TS of Pons at the level of Facial Colliculus

Medial longitudinal fasciculus

Reticular formation

Superior cerebellar peduncle Fourth ventricle M S Trigeminal nucleus Pontine nucleus Middle cerebellar peduncle Sensory root

Spinal lemniscus Medial lemniscus Trapezoid body

Motor root

Corticospinal and Corticonuclear fibres

Trigeminal Nerve

TS Pons at the level of trigeminal nuclei

2. Abducent nerve( VI) regulate certain eye ball movements. 3. Facial nerve ( VII) Conduct impulses related to taste, salivation, facial expressions 4. Vestibular branch of vestibular cochlear nerve (VIII) Concerned with equillibrium.

5. Pontine nuclei- small masses of nuclei in the basilar part corticopontine fibres from midbrain

terminate in these nuclei.

Axons form these transverse fibres.

Mid brain
extends from the Pons to the lower part of the Diencephalon.

 Ventral portion contain pair of fibre bundlescerebral peduncles

Cerebral peduncles contain

1.motor fibres conveying impulses from cerebral cortex to Pons, Medulla, Spinal cord

2. Sensory fibres from the spinal cord to the medulla, pons and thalamus. Superior cerebellar peduncles connect mid brain with the cerebellum. Dorsal portion of midbrain contain- Tectum

has 4 rounded elevations -corpora quadrigemina

Upper two - superior colliculi serve as reflex centres for movements of the eyes, head and neck in response to visual and other stimuli . Lower two- Inferior colliculi Serve as reflex centres for movements of head and trunk in response to auditory stimuli.

Optic nerve
Mammillary body Posterior perforated substance Interpeduncular fossa Pons Sensory Cerebellum Motor Tuber cinerium Optic chiasma Optic tract

Crus cerebri
Oculomotor nerve Trochlear nerve

Trigeminal Nerve

Mid brain anterior view

Medulla

Lateral geniculate body

Midbrain -lateral view

Corona radiata Pulvinar

Superior brachium Superior colliculus Medial geniculate body Inferior brachium Inferior colliculus Superior cerebellar peduncle Middle cerebellar peduncle cerebellum

Lentiform nucleus Optic chiasma Optic tract Optic nerve Crus cerebri Oculomotor N Trochlear nerve Pons

Trigeminal nerve
Medulla

At the level of Inf. Colliculus

Trochlear Nucleus

Cerebral aqueduct Trochlear nerve Inferior colliculus Central gray matter Mesencephalic nucleus

Tectum

Tegmentum

Lateral lemniscus TP Trigeminal Spinal L.

Crus Cerebri

Cortico spinal FP

Medial lemniscus

Interpeduncular Substantia Nigra Fossa Decuss. Sup.Cerebellar P

Medial long. fasciculus

At Sup. Collicular level

Mesencephalic nucleus of V

Superior colliculus Medial longitudinal fasciculus

Trigeminal lemniscus
Spinal lemniscus Medial lemniscus TP Cortico spinal

Reticular formation FP

Substantia Nigra Oculomotor nerve Decussation of Rubrospinal tract

Red nucleus

Midbrain also contain - substantia nigra These are large darkly pigmented nuclei which control subconscious muscle activities. Red nucleus rich blood supply iron containing pigment in neuronal cell bodies. fibres from cerebellum and cerebrum end in red nucleus. origin of cell bodies of descending rubrospinal tract

 Red nucleus function with basal ganglia and cerebellum to coordinate muscle movements. Cranial nerve nuclei

oculomotor nerve nucleus (III)mediate some movements of the eye ball, changes in the pupil size and lens shape. trochlear nerve (IV). conduct impulses which coordinate movements of the eyeball.

Medial lemniscus
extends through medulla, pons and midbrain band of white fibres containing axons.

convey impulses for discriminative touch, proprioception, pressure and vibration from medulla to thalamus