Brainstem: external features, internal organization and major pathways
7 min read
Brainstem: stalk-like part of the brain connecting the spinal cord to the forebrain; comprises medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain, lying in the posterior cranial fossa on the clivus.
Continuous with the spinal cord below (medulla) and cerebral hemispheres above (midbrain); separated from the cerebellum posteriorly by the fourth ventricle.
Functions of the Brainstem
Functions:
Passage for ascending and descending tracts
Vital centres (cardiac, vasomotor, respiratory)
Reticular activating system for consciousness
Nuclei of cranial nerves III to XII
The pontine respiratory centre modulates the output of the respiratory centres in the medulla.