Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which type of sensory information is NOT carried by the spinothalamic tract?
Which type of sensory information is NOT carried by the spinothalamic tract?
What is the primary role of descending white matter tracts?
What is the primary role of descending white matter tracts?
The fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus are involved in carrying which type of sensory information?
The fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus are involved in carrying which type of sensory information?
Information that never reaches consciousness typically goes to which part of the brain?
Information that never reaches consciousness typically goes to which part of the brain?
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What are the primary communication functions of descending white matter tracts?
What are the primary communication functions of descending white matter tracts?
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Which cranial nerve is responsible for controlling the superior oblique muscle?
Which cranial nerve is responsible for controlling the superior oblique muscle?
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From which nucleus do the parasympathetic neurones that innervate certain eye muscles originate?
From which nucleus do the parasympathetic neurones that innervate certain eye muscles originate?
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What type of movements does the lateral rectus muscle facilitate?
What type of movements does the lateral rectus muscle facilitate?
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Cranial Nerve V is primarily involved in which type of function?
Cranial Nerve V is primarily involved in which type of function?
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The cranial nerve that allows for downward movements of the eye is which of the following?
The cranial nerve that allows for downward movements of the eye is which of the following?
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What type of movements do the lateral column tracts control?
What type of movements do the lateral column tracts control?
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Which type of neurone does not project its axon outside of the spinal cord?
Which type of neurone does not project its axon outside of the spinal cord?
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What is a characteristic of monosynaptic reflexes?
What is a characteristic of monosynaptic reflexes?
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Which reflex involves more than one synapse?
Which reflex involves more than one synapse?
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The ventromedial column tracts are primarily responsible for which function?
The ventromedial column tracts are primarily responsible for which function?
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What type of neuron sends impulses from sensory receptors to the spinal cord?
What type of neuron sends impulses from sensory receptors to the spinal cord?
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What initiates a reflexive motor response?
What initiates a reflexive motor response?
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In reflex actions, which neurons form a link between the sensory neurone and the motor neurone during polysynaptic reflexes?
In reflex actions, which neurons form a link between the sensory neurone and the motor neurone during polysynaptic reflexes?
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Which type of sensory information is processed by the more ventral laminae in the dorsal horn?
Which type of sensory information is processed by the more ventral laminae in the dorsal horn?
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What is the primary role of motor neurones that originate in the ventral horn?
What is the primary role of motor neurones that originate in the ventral horn?
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Where do preganglionic sympathetic neurones reside in the spinal cord?
Where do preganglionic sympathetic neurones reside in the spinal cord?
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What characterizes motor neuron disease?
What characterizes motor neuron disease?
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Which of the following statements about the spinal cord white matter is true?
Which of the following statements about the spinal cord white matter is true?
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What do ascending tracts in the spinal cord convey?
What do ascending tracts in the spinal cord convey?
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What is the role of the lateral columns of the spinal cord?
What is the role of the lateral columns of the spinal cord?
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Which segment of the spinal cord contains the preganglionic parasympathetic neurones?
Which segment of the spinal cord contains the preganglionic parasympathetic neurones?
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What type of information do dorsal columns in the white matter primarily conduct?
What type of information do dorsal columns in the white matter primarily conduct?
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What is the primary function of the motor fibres originating from the facial motor nucleus?
What is the primary function of the motor fibres originating from the facial motor nucleus?
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Which nucleus is responsible for the stimulation of salivary and lacrimal glands?
Which nucleus is responsible for the stimulation of salivary and lacrimal glands?
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Where do the vestibular nerves send information related to the position and movement of the head?
Where do the vestibular nerves send information related to the position and movement of the head?
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What type of information does the cochlear nerve carry?
What type of information does the cochlear nerve carry?
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Which structure is attached to the nucleus solitarius?
Which structure is attached to the nucleus solitarius?
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The vestibular nerve is associated with which part of the ear?
The vestibular nerve is associated with which part of the ear?
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What is the main origin of the motor fibres that control facial muscles?
What is the main origin of the motor fibres that control facial muscles?
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Which of the following is NOT associated with the cranial nerve VIII?
Which of the following is NOT associated with the cranial nerve VIII?
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What type of information does the trigeminal sensory nucleus receive?
What type of information does the trigeminal sensory nucleus receive?
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Which cranial nerve nucleus controls the movement of the tongue?
Which cranial nerve nucleus controls the movement of the tongue?
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Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for transmitting visual information?
Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for transmitting visual information?
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What kind of control does the Edinger-Westphal nucleus exert?
What kind of control does the Edinger-Westphal nucleus exert?
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The cochlear nuclei are responsible for processing which type of information?
The cochlear nuclei are responsible for processing which type of information?
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Which nerve innervates muscles in the face?
Which nerve innervates muscles in the face?
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What type of cranial nerves can be mixed?
What type of cranial nerves can be mixed?
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Which strucure governs the pupillary light reflex?
Which strucure governs the pupillary light reflex?
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Which cranial nerve nucleus is responsible for sending taste information to the brain?
Which cranial nerve nucleus is responsible for sending taste information to the brain?
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The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus is involved in innervating which structures?
The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus is involved in innervating which structures?
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What type of neurons comprise the branchiomotor column?
What type of neurons comprise the branchiomotor column?
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What is the function of the superior and inferior salivatory nuclei?
What is the function of the superior and inferior salivatory nuclei?
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Which cranial nerve nucleus is primarily involved in controlling eye movements?
Which cranial nerve nucleus is primarily involved in controlling eye movements?
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Which muscles does the hypoglossal nucleus control?
Which muscles does the hypoglossal nucleus control?
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Study Notes
Unit 3: Spinal Cord and Brainstem
- The spinal cord is the CNS part within the spinal column.
- The spinal column consists of vertebrae.
- The spinal cord is the main communication pathway between the brain and body, but cranial nerves are the main pathway for communication between the brain and head.
- The spinal cord has a degree of autonomy from the brain, managing reflexes.
- The spinal cord is made up of grey and white matter.
- Grey matter is densely packed with cell bodies and dendrites with axons of white matter communicating to other segments.
- Sensory and motor nerves are on both sides of the spinal cord,.
- Sensory nerves carry information from the body to the spinal cord.
- Motor nerves carry information from the spinal cord to the body.
- The spinal cord has a segmented structure, with 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
- If the spinal cord is cut at a particular segment, sensation and motor control below that segment are lost.
- The spinal cord is surrounded by meninges (protective membranes) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Protection of the Spinal Cord
- The spinal cord is protected by the spinal/vertebral column, meninges and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- The spinal column consists of many vertebrae: cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), lumbar (lower back), sacral (pelvic) and coccygeal (pelvic).
- The spinal cord runs through the spinal foramen in the centre of each vertebra.
- Meninges are the three-layered protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
- The pia mater is the innermost layer adhering to the spinal cord.
- The arachnoid is the middle layer, with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between it and the pia mater.
- The dura mater is the outermost, strong and inflexible layer.
External Organisation
- The spinal cord is roughly the size of a little finger, but not uniform in diameter.
- The spinal cord has two enlargements where spinal nerves leave to innervate the upper and lower limbs.
- Each pair of spinal nerves connects to the left and right side of the spinal cord, respectively.
- The dorsal roots and ventral roots join to form the spinal nerve.
- Dorsal roots contain primary afferent sensory neurons from the body periphery to the CNS.
- Sensory neurons' cell bodies are in the dorsal root ganglia.
- Ventral roots contain efferent motor neurons innervating skeletal muscles.
Internal Organisation: Grey Matter
- Spinal cord grey matter has four protrusions: dorsal and ventral horns, extending to the dorsal and ventral roots of spinal nerves.
- The dorsal horn is where the sensory neurons arrive.
- The ventral horn contains motor neurons' cell bodies, exiting via ventral roots to effector organs.
- The lateral horn, found in some spinal cord segments, accommodates sympathetic preganglionic neurons.
- Grey matter forms an 'H' (or butterfly) shape around the central canal, which contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
- The dorsal and ventral horns can be further divided into laminae, based on cell properties and function.
Internal Organisation: White Matter
- Spinal cord white matter consists of axons, communicating between the spinal cord and other CNS areas.
- Axons organized into columns (dorsal, lateral and ventral).
- Tracts (axon pathways), grouped by origin, termination, and function, are within the white matter columns.
- Ascending tracts carry information from the periphery to the brain.
- Descending tracts carry information from the brain to the spinal cord, influencing motor activity, reflexes, and autonomic functions.
Reflexes
- Reflexes are involuntary responses to stimuli.
- Monosynaptic reflex arcs involve a sensory neuron, an interneuron, and a motor neuron, with a single synapse.
- Polysynaptic reflex arcs involve more than one synapse, often involving interneurons.
- The reflex action involves sensory neurons sending impulses to the spinal cord, which then communicates a signal to a motor neuron causing a response.
Introduction: Brainstem
- The brainstem consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla.
- The brainstem plays a crucial role in sensory and motor information pathways as they pass through the brainstem.
- The brainstem attaches to the spinal cord caudally, while it is connected to the diencephalon rostrally.
Brainstem: Medulla and Pons
- The medulla is a vital extension of the spinal cord.
- Vital reflexes like breathing, vomiting, coughing, and sneezing are controlled by the medulla.
- The pons has a transverse fibre system (pontocerebellar fibres) connecting cerebral cortex and cerebellum, coordinating body movements.
Brainstem: Midbrain
- The midbrain has the tectum (upper and lower colliculi) and the tegmentum.
- The superior colliculus is important for the visual system.
- The inferior colliculus plays a vital role in auditory processing.
- The tegmentum has nuclei for various functions (including reticular formation, periaqueductal grey matter, the red nucleus and substantia nigra).
Brainstem: Reticular Formation
- The reticular formation is a complex network of nuclei running through the brainstem.
- It plays a crucial role in many functions such as motor activity, breathing, cardiovascular function, muscle tone, posture and pain perception.
- It's crucial for arousal, sleep and consciousness.
Brainstem: Periaqueductal Grey Matter
- The periaqueductal grey matter encircles the cerebral aqueduct.
- It participates in primitive behaviors such as aggression and mating and impacts how opiates produce pain relief.
Brainstem: Substantia Nigra
- The substantia nigra is part of the tegmentum, linking to basal ganglia (caudate nucleus and putamen)
- It's involved in voluntary movement control.
- Degeneration of substantia nigra (especially its connections with the caudate nucleus) is a symptom of Parkinson's disease.
Cranial Nerves
- The brainstem also contains the nuclei of most cranial nerves.
- Cranial nerves control sensory and motor functions of the head and neck (and some internal organs).
- There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves.
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Description
Explore the anatomy and functions of the spinal cord and brainstem in this quiz. Learn about the communication pathways between the brain and body, the structure of the spinal cord, and the role of grey and white matter. Test your knowledge on the segmentation of spinal nerves and the impact of spinal cord injuries.
