Yuniarti

Anatomy Department Faculty of Medicine UNISBA

 Brainstem is the part of the brain between the spinal cord and
the diencephalon It consist of three structurally and functionally connected regions : 1. Medulla oblongata 2. Pons 3. Midbrain

occupies the posterior cranial fossa of the skull

It is stalklike in shape

serves as a conduit for the ascending tracts and descending tracts connecting the spinal cord to the different parts of the higher centers

it contains important reflex centers associated with the control of respiration and the cardiovascular system and with the control of consciousness

contains the important nuclei of cranial nerves III through XII.

The midbrain extends From the pons to the Diencephalon Is about 2,5 cm long

The cerebral aqueduct passes through the midbrain

The anterior part of the midbrain contains a pair of tract called cerebral peduncles Cerebral peduncle contain: - axon of corticospinal, corticopontine, corticobulbar motor neurons which conduct nerve impulses from the cerebrum to the spinal cord, medulla and pons. - axon s of sensory neurons that extend from the medulla to the thalamus

The midbrain comprises two lateral halves, called the cerebral peduncles; each of these is divided into : -an anterior part, the crus cerebri -a posterior part, the tegmentum by a pigmented band of gray matter, the substantia nigra

On the lateral aspect of the midbrain, the superior and inferior brachia ascend in an anterolateral direction. -The superior brachium passes from the superior colliculus to the lateral geniculate body and the optic tract. - The inferior brachium connects the inferior colliculus to the medial geniculate body.

The posterior part of the midbrain, called the tectum Contains four rounded elevations : - Two superior elevations superior colliculi (visual) - Two inferior elevations inferior colliculi (auditory)

Nuclei of the midbrain : 1. Substansia nigra - Darkly pigmented nuclei - Help control subsconcious muscle activity - Pigmented gray matter 2. Red nuclei - Look reddish - Function with the cerebellum to coordinate muscular movement 3. Nuclei associated with cranial nerve III & IV

The pons lies directly suerior to the medulla and anterior to the cerebellum Is about 2,5 cm long Links cerebellum with mesencephalon, diencephalon, cerebrum, and spinal cord

The anterior surface is convex from side to side and shows many transverse fibers that converge on each side to form the middle cerebellar peduncle There is a shallow groove in the midline, the basilar groove, which lodges the basilar artery.

On the anterolateral surface of the pons, the trigeminal nerve emerges on each side. In the groove between the pons and the medulla oblongata, there emerge, from medial to lateral, the abducent, facial, and vestibulocochlear nerves

Cerebellar peduncles connect cerebellum to brainstem -Superior cerebellar peduncles to midbrain -Middle cerebellar peduncles to pons (largest) -Inferior cerebellar peduncles to medulla

Nuclei of the pons :

1. Pontine nuclei are the sites at which signals for voluntary movements that originate in the cerebral cortex are relayed into the cerebellum
2. Peumotaxic area & Apneustic area together with the medullary rhythmicity area help control breathing 3. Nuclei associated with cranial nerve V(trigeminal), VI(abdusent), VII(facial), VIII (vestibulocochlear)

 Medulla is a continuation of the spinal cord, it forms the inferior part

of brain stem

On the anterior surface of the medulla is the anterior median fissure. On each side of the median fissure, there is a swelling called the pyramid. The pyramids are composed of bundles of nerve fibers, called corticospinal fibers The pyramids taper inferiorly, and it is here that the majority of the descending fibers cross over to the opposite side, forming the decussation of the pyramids

Posterolateral to the pyramids are the olives, which are oval elevations produced by the underlying inferior olivary nuclei.

In the groove between the pyramid and the olive emerge the rootlets of the hypoglossal nerve. In the groove between the olive and the inferior cerebellar peduncle emerge the roots of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves and the cranial roots of the accessory nerve

As in the spinal cord, the medulla oblongata consists of white matter and gray matter

Posterior view of medulla oblongata

Nuclei of medulla :
1. The cardiovascular center
regulate the rate and force of the heartbeat and the diameter of blood vessels

2. The medullary rhythmicity area

respiratory center

3. Inferior olivary
relay impulses from proprioceptors (monitoring joint &muscle positions) to the cerebellum

4. Gracile & cuneate

sensations of touch, conscious proprioception, pressure and vibration 5. Nuclei that receive sensory input from or provide motor output to cranial nerve IX (glossopharyngeal), X (vagus), XI (accesorry) & XII (hypoglossal)

6. Solitary nucleus - receives visceral sensory information 7 Olivary nuclei lateral to pyramids Receive sensory info from proprioceptors (position) in skeletal muscles & joints & act as a relay point to the cerebellum 8. Non-vital reflex centers Vomiting, hiccough, swallowing, coughing, sneezing

The

reticular formation extends through the central core of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain

The network may be divided into three longitudinal columns:

Raphe Medial nuclear (large cell) group Lateral nuclear (small cell) group

Afferent Projections of reticular system From the spinal cord spinoreticular tracts, the spinothalamic tracts, and the medial lemniscus. From the cranial nerve nuclei ascending afferent tracts, which include the vestibular, acoustic, and visual pathways From the cerebellumthe cerebelloreticular pathway. From the subthalamic, hypothalamic, and thalamic nuclei From the corpus striatum From the limbic system From the primary motor cortex of the frontal lobe From the somesthetic cortex of the parietal lobe.

Efferent projection of reticular system Multiple efferent pathways extend down to the brainstem and spinal cord through the reticulobulbar and reticulospinal tracts to neurons in the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves and the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. Cortico-spinal tract: This pathway originates in motor areas of the cerebral cortex. The cortico-spinal tract, from cortex to spinal cord Cortico-bulbar fibers: This is a descriptive term that is poorly defined and includes all fibers that go to the brainstem, both cranial nerve nuclei and other brainstem nuclei. Rubro-spinal tract: The red nucleus of the midbrain gives rise to the rubrospinal tract. Lateral vestibulo-spinal tract: The lateral vestibular nucleus of the pons gives rise to the lateral vestibulo-spinal tract Medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF): This is a complex pathway of the brainstem andupper spinal cord that serves to coordinate various eye and neck reflexes.

Functions of the Reticular Formation

Control of skeletal muscle Control of somatic and visceral sensations.

Control of the autonomic nervous system

Control of the endocrine nervous system. Influence on the biologic clocks. The ascending reticular activating system Multiple ascending pathways carrying sensory information to higher centers are channeled through the reticular formation, which, in turn, projects this information to different parts of the cerebral cortex, causing a sleeping person to awaken state of consciousness is dependent on the continuous projection of sensory information to the cortex