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Brainstem and Cerebellum Overview

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TERMINOLOGY

Abbreviations

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Cranial nerves (CN): Oculomotor nerve (CNIII), trochlear nerve (CNIV), trigeminal nerve (CNV), abducens nerve (CNVI), facial nerve (CNVII), vestibulocochlear nerve (CNVIII), glossopharyngeal nerve (CNIX), vagus nerve (CNX), accessory nerve (CNXI), hypoglossal nerve (CNXII)

Synonyms

• Classical nomenclature (simplified nomenclature)

Superior (tentorial), inferior (suboccipital), anterior (petrosal) cerebellar surfaces

Primary (tentorial), horizontal (petrosal), prebiventral/prepyramidal (suboccipital) cerebellar fissures

Definitions

• Posterior fossa: Houses brainstem & cerebellum, below tentorium cerebelli (infratentorial)
• Brainstem: Composed of midbrain (mesencephalon), pons, & medulla oblongata
• Cerebellum: Largest part of hindbrain, integrates coordinations & fine-tuning of movement & regulation of muscle tone

GROSS ANATOMY

Overview

• Posterior fossa : Infratentorial contents

Protected space surrounded by calvarium, contains

– Brainstem anteriorly, cerebellum posteriorly

– Cerebral aqueduct & 4th ventricle

– CSF cisterns containing CNs, vertebrobasilar arterial system, & veins

CSF cisterns suspend & cushion brainstem & cerebellum
• Brainstem

Anatomic divisions

– Midbrain (mesencephalon) : Upper brainstem, connects pons & cerebellum with forebrain

– Pons : Mid portion of brainstem, relays information from brain to cerebellum

– Medulla : Caudal (inferior) brainstem, relays information from spinal cord to brain

Functional divisions

– Ventral part: Contains large descending white matter tracts: Midbrain cerebral peduncles, pontine bulb, medullary pyramids

– Dorsal part: Tegmentum, common to midbrain, pons, & medulla; contains CN nuclei & reticular formation
• Cerebellum

2 hemispheres & midline vermis, 3 surfaces

Connected to brainstem by 3 paired peduncles

Cortical gray matter, central white matter, & 4 paired deep gray nuclei

Anatomy Relationships

• Posterior fossa boundaries

Tentorium cerebelli superiorly

Bony clivus anteriorly

Temporal bones & calvarium laterally

Foramen magnum & calvarium inferiorly
• Midbrain

Ventral: Cerebral peduncles (crus cerebri) containing corticospinal, corticobulbar, & corticopontine tracts

Dorsal tegmentum : Ventral to cerebral aqueduct

– White matter tracts: Medial longitudinal fasciculus, medial lemniscus, lateral lemniscus, spinothalamic tract, central tegmental tract

– Gray matter: Substantia nigra & red nucleus

– Upper midbrain: Contains CNIII nucleus, at superior colliculus level

– Lower midbrain: Contains CNIV nucleus, at inferior colliculus level

Tectum (quadrigeminal plate) : Dorsal to cerebral aqueduct

– Superior & inferior colliculi

– Periaqueductal gray matter
• Pons

Ventral: Longitudinal fibers primarily from corticospinal, corticobulbar, & corticopontine tracts

Dorsal tegmentum: White matter tracts & CN nuclei

– White matter tracts: Medial longitudinal fasciculus, medial lemniscus, lateral lemniscus, trapezoid body, spinothalamic tract, central tegmental tract

– Upper pons: Contains main nuclei of CNV

– Lower pons: Contains nuclei of CNIV, VII, & VIII
• Medulla

Ventral: Olives & pyramids

Dorsal tegmentum : White matter tracts & CN nuclei

– White matter tracts: Medial longitudinal fasciculus, medial lemniscus, spinothalamic tract, central tegmental tract, spinocerebellar tract

– CN nuclei: CNIX, X, & XI (bulbar portion) in upper & mid medulla; CNXII nuclei in mid medulla

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Mar 13, 2021 | Posted by admin in NUCLEAR MEDICINE | Comments Off

Main Text

TERMINOLOGY

Abbreviations

GROSS ANATOMY

Overview

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Brainstem and Cerebellum Overview

Brainstem and Cerebellum Overview

Synonyms

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Anatomy Relationships

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Brainstem and Cerebellum Overview

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