SLP528 Neurology
Guide to neurology for clinicians and students in speech-language pathology
The Brainstem
The brainstem is inferior to the thalamus, and superior to the spinal cord
It is made up of the midbrain (aka mesencephalon), the pons, and medulla oblongata
The midbrain includes the reticular formation and the substantia nigra. The midbrain also houses the superior and inferior colliculi; and the crus cerebri (nerve fibers) passing through it
The pons is the largest part of the brainstem. The cerebellum is linked to the brainstem at the pons, via the middle cerebellar peduncle
The medulla oblongata is the most inferior portion of the brainstem. The superior olivary complex (time and localization of sound) and the medullary pyramids are at this level of the brainstem
Due to the fact that the brainstem is a more primitive feature of the brain, it controls several basic functions including regulation of heart rate, breathing, eating, and sleeping
The cranial nerves emerge from the different areas of the brainstem
