Brainstem
The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord, but also is involved in a long list of other functions, some of which are critical for survival.
1) Start with this video:
2) Then, read these articles:
Know Your Brain - Brainstem
Know Your Brain - Medulla Oblongata
Know Your Brain - Pons
Know Your Brain - Midbrain
3) Read this article for some historical context:
History of Neuroscience - Julien Jean Cesar Legallois
4) Watch this video to put it all together:
5) Finally, answer these questions to test your understanding:
1. This is the most inferior part of the brainstem, found just above the spinal cord:
- A. midbrain
- B. medulla oblongata
- C. pons
Show Answer
Correct answer: C
The medulla oblongata, or the medulla, is the lowest part of the brainstem, found below the pons and above the spinal cord. There is no clear separation between the medulla and the spinal cord; instead the spinal cord gradually transitions into the medulla.
2. This part of the brainstem contains the two largest dopamine-producing areas in the brain, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra:
- A. medulla oblongata
- B. midbrain
- C. pons
Show Answer
Correct answer: B
The midbrain contains the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra, which are the two largest concentrations of dopamine neurons in the brain.
3. The name for this brainstem structure is Latin for "bridge," and it was so named because it resembles a bridge that connects the two hemispheres of the cerebellum:
- A. pons
- B. midbrain
- C. medulla oblongata
- D. substantia nigra
Show Answer
Correct answer: A
The pons is a major division of the brainstem. Pons is Latin for "bridge"; the structure was given its name by the Italian anatomist Costanzo Varolio, who thought that the most conspicuous portion of the pons resembled a bridge that connected the two cerebellar hemispheres.
4. While various parts of the brain are involved in controlling vital functions, this region has neurons that play especially critical roles in the regulation of heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate:
- A. hippocampus
- B. medulla oblongata
- C. cerebellum
- D. pineal gland
Show Answer
Correct answer: B
The medulla (a region of the brainstem) is involved in a long list of functions, but perhaps the most important among them is the regulation of vital functions. The medulla receives information from receptors in the body about heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels in the blood (among other things). If any of these levels are outside of a desire range, the medulla can adjust cardiac and respiratory function to attempt to return them to where they should be.
5. In which part of the brainstem are the superior and inferior colliculi found?
- A. midbrain
- B. pons
- C. medulla oblongata
Show Answer
Correct answer: C
The superior and inferior colliculi are found in the midbrain; their locations are marked by four bumps on the posterior surface of the brainstem. The superior colliculi are involved in eye movements and visual processing, while the inferior colliculi are involved in auditory processing.
