BRAINSTEM AND CRANIAL NERVES
Review: Levels of the Spinal Cord
Development
Ventricles in brainstem
Mesencephalon cerebral aqueduct Metencephalon 4th ventricle Mylencephalon 4th ventricle
Corpus callosum Fornix Thalamus Anterior commissure Hypothalamus
Posterior commissure
Occipital Lobe Quadrigeminal cistern
vermis Optic nerve 4th ventricle Mammillary body
pyramid
Anterior view of brainstem
basal ganglia internal capsule optic chiasm optic nerve optic tract hypothalamus mammillary body
cerebral peduncle interpeduncular fossa pons flocculus inferior olivary nuclear complex cerebellum pyramidal decussation cerebellar tonsil
pyramid
Lateral view of brainstem
optic tract cerebral peduncle trigeminal nerve
optic nerve middle cerebellar peduncle optic chiasm vestibulocochlear nerve hypothalamus pons flocculus cuneate tubercle inferior olivary nuclear complex
anterior median fissure
pyramid
Posterior view of brainstem
Superior colliculus Cerebral peduncle Superior cerebellar peduncle Middle cerebellar peduncle Inferior colliculus
4th ventricle
Inferior cerebellar peduncle
Medulla
Components of the brainstem
Sensory ascending pathways (dorsal) Motor descending pathways (ventral) Cerebellar pathways Cranial nerve sensory and motor tracts CPGs: rhythmic chewing, respiration, cardiovascular regulation & gain adjustments for reflexes Modulatory systems: locus coeruleus, raphe & substantia nigra
Brainstem: 3 major divisions
Midbrain Pons
Medulla
Ascending sensory pathways
Fine discriminitive touch, conscious proprioception Fasciculus gracilis: Terminates in the nucleus gracilis (medulla) Fasciculus cuneatus: Terminates (medulla) in the cuneate and accessory cuneate nuclei Sensations of pain and temperature Lateral Spinothalamic Tract origin dorsal horn cells of the gray matter Fibers cross contralaterally through the anterior commissure and ascend to the VPL nucleus Transmits sensations of touch Ventral Spinothalamic Tract origin cells of the posterior horn Fibers cross to the opposite side in the anterior commissure
Descending motor pathways
Voluntary movement Lateral Corticospinal Tract Originates in large pyramidal cells (precentral gyrus) cross to the opposite side of the cord at the pyramidal decussation & terminate in the dorsal horn cells Ventral Corticospinal Tract Originates in the pyramidal cells (motor area of the cortex) Impulses related to equilibrium and antigravity reflexes Vestibulospinal Tract Fibers originate in the vestibular nuclei of the medulla and terminate at level of the sacral spinal nerves Connects vestibular complex and head and eye movement coordination center in medulla Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus Contains both ascending and descending fibers
Motor Hierarchy
Lateral group (extremities; fine motor control) Corticospinal tract Rubrospinal tract Medial group (axial musculature; rhythmic and postural movements) Vestibulospinal tract Tectospinal tract Reticulospinal tract Final common path: motor pool
Reticular Formation
Core of brainstem (midbrain, pons and medulla) composed of loosely organized neurons, outside of the major nuclear groups of the brainstem. Medial-to-lateral: raphe nuclei, gigantocellular region, small cell region Participate in widespread connections Rostral continuation of interneuronal network found in spinal cord
Cerebellar pathways
Conduct impulses from the leg and trunk muscles for unconscious proprioception Dorsal & Ventral Spinocerebellar Tracts Enter cerebellum via inferior cerebellar peduncle
Summary of Spinal Cord Tracts
Brainstem Internal Anatomy
Components of the brainstem
Sensory ascending pathways (dorsal):
Relay nuclei, tracts
Motor descending pathways (ventral)
Tracts, motor nuclei brainstem
Cerebellar pathways
Tracts, cerebellar afferent and efferent nuclei
Cranial nerve sensory and motor tracts
Cranial nerve nuclei, nerve entry and exit points
CPGs: rhythmic chewing, respiration, cardiovascular regulation & gain adjustments for reflexes Modulatory systems: locus coeruleus, raphe & substantia nigra
Chemically coded nuclei
Dorsal Column/Medial Lemniscal system
Secondary neuron is in brainstem: nucleus gracilis and cuneatus=dorsal column nuclei
Output of dorsal column nuclei crosses midline and forms recognizable bundle: medial lemniscus Medial lemniscus fibers synapse in the thalamus in the ventroposterior nuclei
Thalamic axons synapse in primary somatosensory cortex in several somatotopic maps with some segregation of submodalities
http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/HumanBioogy/central_n ervous_system.
Tracing through the brainstem: Dorsal Column/Medial Lemniscal System
Corticospinal Tract
Caudal Medulla
Caudal Medulla
Closed medulla
Caudal Medulla
Caudal Medulla
Caudal Medulla
Caudal Medulla
Caudal Medulla
Caudal Medulla
Medulla
Medulla
Medulla
Medulla
Rostral Medulla
Rostral Medulla
Rostral Medulla
Rostral Medulla
Medulla-Pons Junction
Medulla-Pons Junction
Caudal Pons
Caudal Pons
Caudal Pons
Caudal Pons
Pons
Pons
Rostral Pons
Rostral Pons
Rostral Pons
Rostral Pons
Pons- Mesencephalon Junction
Pons- Mesencephalon Junction
Mesencephalon
Mesencephalon
Mesencephalon
Mesencephalon
Mesencephalon- Diencephalon Junction
Mesencephalon- Diencephalon Junction
The Cranial Nerves
The head and neck are not innervated by spinal nerves Sensory information is received and motor information is sent via 12 cranial nerves Considered part of the PNS they convey messages to and from the body's muscles and glands.
Each cranial nerve.
Can be referred to by a name or number! Has a general function Has at least a motor, sensory or parasympathetic component Some have more than one component Has associated brainstem nuclei Innervates a structure(s)
Cranial nerves can be identified on the ventral surface of the brain
I I II III IV V VI VIII IX XII
VII
X
XI
Some tricks to learning cranial nerve numbers, names & components
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
Olfactory Optic Occulomotor Trochlear Trigeminal Abducens Facial Auditory/Vestibulocochlear Glossopharyngeal Vagus Spinal/Accessory Hypoglossal On Old Olympus Towering Tops A Frenchman And German Viewed Some Hops Some Say Marry* Money But My Brother* Says Big* Business* Makes Money
S = Sensory M = Motor B = Both/Mixed Sensory & Motor * = Parasympathetic
Arrangement of brainstem cranial nerve nuclei in columns
Midbrain Pons Medulla
Insert picture with different levels differentiated
General Rules of Thumb
Most motor nuclei are associated with a single cranial nerve
Afferent nuclei often receive fibers from several cranial nerves
All associated with a single function however, e.g., nucleus of solitary tract
Functions of Cranial Nerves
www.neurophys.com/EMG/Cranial_Nerves/
Cranial Nerve I: Olfactory
Component: Function: Tract: Sensory Smell Olfactory cells of nasal mucosa Olfactory Bulbs pyriform cortex
Cranial Nerve II: Optic
Component(s): Function: Sensory Vision
Tract:
retinal ganglion cells optic chiasm thalamus primary visual cortex in occipital lobe
Cranial Nerve III: Oculomotor
Component #1: Motor
Function(s): Structure(s) Innervated:
Movement of eyeball & lens accomodation 4 eyeball muscles & 1 eyelid muscle
Component #2:
Nucleus location: Function: Structure(s) Innervated:
Parasympathetic
midbrain pupil constriction ciliary muscle and pupillary constrictor muscles
Cranial Nerve III: Oculomotor
Cranial Nerve IV: Trochlear
Component: Function: Nucleus location: Structure(s) Innervated: Motor moves eyeball midbrain superior oblique muscles
Cranial Nerve V: Trigeminal
Component #1: Sensory(impulses of touch, pain, heat and cold) pons & medulla (1) sensations; (2) general sensory from tongue; (3) proprioception (1) face, scalp, teeth, lips, eyeballs, nose & throat lining; (2) anterior 2/3 of tonque; (3) muscles of mastication
Locations of nuclei: Function:
Structure(s) Innervated:
Cranial Nerve V: Trigeminal
Component #2: Function: Nucleus location: Structure(s) Innervated: Motor chewing trigeminal motor nucleus in pons muscles of mastication
Cranial Nerve V: Trigeminal
Cranial Nerve VI: Abducens
Component: Function: Nucleus: Structure(s) Innervated: Motor Eyeball movement abducens nucleus in pons lateral rectus muscle of eye
Cranial Nerve VII: Facial
Component #1: Nucleus location: Sensory medulla
Function:
Structure(s) Innervated: Component #2: Nucleus location: Function: Structure(s) Innervated:
(1) taste & (2) proprioception
(1) anterior 2/3 of tongue & (2) face and scalp Motor facial motor nucleus in pons facial expressions muscles of the face
Cranial Nerve VII: Facial
Component #3: Nucleus location: Function: Structure(s) Innervated: Parasympathetic Superior salivatory nucleus in medulla salivation and lacrimation (drooling and tears) salivary and lacrimal glands via submandibular and pterygopalatine gamglia
Cranial Nerve VIII: Vestibulocochlear
(aka acoustic or auditory nerve)
Component: Functions: Nucleus: Structure(s) Innervated: Sensory (1) Balance (2) Hearing In pons and medulla vestibular apparatus of internal ear cochlear of internal ear auditory cortex in the temporal lobes
Cranial Nerve VIII: Vestibulocochlear
(aka acoustic or auditory nerve)
Cranial Nerve IX: Glossopharyngeal
Component #1: Nucleus location: Function: Sensory medulla (1) taste; (2) proprioception for swallowing & (3) blood pressure receptors (1) posterior two thirds of tongue; (2) throat muscles & (3) carotid sinuses
Structure(s) Innervated:
Cranial Nerve IX: Glossopharyngeal
Component #2: Nucleus location: Function: Motor medulla (1) swallowing and gag reflexes & (2) tear production (1) throat muscles and (2) lacrimal glands
Structure(s) Innervated:
Cranial Nerve IX: Glossopharyngeal
Component #3: Function: Structure(s) Innervated: Parasympathetic saliva production parotid glands
Cranial Nerve X: Vagus
Component #1:
Nucleus location: Function:
Sensory
medulla (1) chemoreceptors; (2) pain receptors; (3) sensations; (4) taste (1) blood oxygen concentration, carotid bodies; (2) respiratory & digestive tracts; (3) external ear, larynx & pharynx (4) tongue
Structure(s) Innervated:
Cranial Nerve X: Vagus
Component #2: Nucleus location: Function(s): Motor medulla (1) heart rate & stroke volume; (2) peristalsis; (3) air flow; (4) speech & swallowing (1) pacemaker & ventricular muscles; (2) smooth muscles of the digestive tract (3) smooth muscles in bronchial tubes (4) muscles of larynx a & pharynx
Structure(s) Innervated:
Cranial Nerve X: Vagus
Component #3:
Structure(s) Innervated:
Parasympathetic
smooth muscles and glands of the same areas innervated by motor component, as well as thoracic and abdominal areas
Cranial Nerve XI: Spinal Accessory
Component:
Function: Nucleus location: Structure(s) Innervated:
Motor
head rotation (& shoulder shrugging!) accessory nucleus in medulla trapezius & sternocleidomastoid muscles
Cranial Nerve XII: Hypoglossal
Component: Function: Nucleus location: Structure(s) Innervated: Motor Speech and swallowing In medulla Throat and tongue muscles
Cranial Nerve XII: Hypoglossal
Dorsal Column/Medial Lemniscal system
Secondary neuron is in brainstem: nucleus gracilis and cuneatus =dorsal column nuclei
Output of dorsal column nuclei crosses midline and forms recognizable bundle: medial lemniscus
Medial lemniscus fibers synapse in the thalamus in the ventroposterior nuclei Thalamic axons synapse in primary somatosensory cortex in several somatotopic maps with some segregation of submodalities
http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/HumanBioogy/central_n ervous_system.
