Week #2 – Study Objectives
Brainstem Topography and Functional Levels
Young (Chapter 3) and Haines
1. Identify the following structures on the brainstem surface in pictures (see Young pp29-31 and
Haines pp22 and 30).
Brainstem Level
Anterior/Ventral Surface Structures
Posterior/Dorsal Surface Structures
Medulla
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Pyramids
Anterior median fissure
Olive
Preolivary sulcus
Postolivary sulcus
Cranial nerve IX (glossopharyngeal)
Cranial nerve X (vagus)
Cranial nerve XI (accessory)
Cranial nerve XII (hypoglossal)
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Posterior median sulcus
Gracile tubercle
Cuneate tubercle
Floor of the 4th ventricle
Obex
Inferior cerebellar peduncle
Pons
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Basilar sulcus
Cranial nerve V (trigeminal)
Cranial nerve VI (abducens)
Cranial nerve VII (facial)
Cranial nerve VIII (vestibulocochlear)
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Floor of the 4th ventricle
Middle cerebellar peduncle
Superior cerebellar peduncle
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Cerebral crus (crus cerebri)
Interpeduncular fossa
Cranial nerve III (oculomotor)
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Corpora quadrigemina
-Superior colliculi
-Inferior colliculi
Cranial nerve IV (trochlear)
Midbrain
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Neuro 360 – Week 2
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2. Identify the following structures in brainstem sections (continued on next page).
Section Level
Structures to Know
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Anterior median fissure
Pyramids
Posterior median sulcus
Gracile tubercle and nucleus
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Anterior median fissure
Pyramids
Principal olivary nucleus (inferior
olivary nucleus)
4th ventricle
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Basilar sulcus
Descending (corticospinal) fibers
Transverse (pontocerebellar) fibers
Middle cerebellar peduncle
Superior cerebellar peduncle
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Cuneate tubercle and nucleus
Reticular formation
Principal olivary nucleus (inferior
olivary nucleus)
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Inferior cerebellar peduncle
(also called the restiform body and
juxtarestiform body)
Reticular formation
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Reticular formation
4th ventricle
Cranial nerve VI (abducens)
Cranial nerve VII (facial)
Caudal medulla
(also called the closed
medulla, see Young
figure 3-6 and Haines
pp112-117)
Rostral medulla
(also called the open
medulla, see Young
figures 3-7 and 3-8, and
Haines pp118-121)
Caudal pons
(see Young figure 3-9
and Haines pp130-133)
Neuro 360 – Week 2
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Section Level
Structures to Know
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Basilar sulcus
Descending (corticospinal) fibers
Transverse (pontocerebellar) fibers
Middle cerebellar peduncle
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Superior cerebellar peduncle
Reticular formation
4th ventricle
Cranial nerve V (trigeminal)
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Basilar sulcus
Descending (corticospinal) fibers
Transverse (pontocerebellar) fibers
Superior cerebellar peduncle
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Reticular formation
Cerebral aqueduct
Cranial nerve IV (trochlear)
Middle pons
(see Young figure 3-10
and Haines pp134-135)
Rostral pons
(see Young figure 3-11
and Haines pp136-137)
Neuro 360 – Week 2
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Section Level
Structures to Know
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Tectum
Tegmentum
Cerebral peduncle
Inferior colliculus
Periaqueductal gray
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Cerebral aqueduct
Reticular formation
Substantia nigra
Cerebral crus (crus cerebri)
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Tectum
Tegmentum
Cerebral peduncle
Superior colliculus
Periaqueductal gray
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Cerebral aqueduct
Reticular formation
Substantia nigra
Cerebral crus (crus cerebri)
Caudal midbrain
(see Young figure 3-12
and Haines pp140-143)
Rostral midbrain
(see Young figure 3-13
and Haines pp144-149)
3. Given a brainstem section, you should be able to identify what level of the brainstem it is
(caudal medulla, rostral pons, etc).
Neuro 360 – Week 2
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4. Given the name of any of the structures in objectives 1 or 2, you should be able to explain
where on/in the brainstem it is located. (For example…Where is the cuneate tubercle? On the
dorsal aspect of the caudal medulla)
Neuro 360 – Week 2
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