AKABrainstem

Foramen Magnum

BRAINSTEM/ HINDBRAIN

Bainstem (Medulla) critical functions

• Ascending and Descending Fiber Tracts• Cranial Nerve Nuclei• All parasympathetic tone

– HR• Temp• BP• Etc

• Relative Inplasticity

Cranial nerve roots

Ascending ( and descending fibers)

Pons and Cerebellum

The RAS runs from medulla up to midbrain

Cerebellum

• Direction• Amplitude• Force• Timing

– Posture– Motor learning

The “Reticular activating system”

Many tiny brain nuclei collectively involved in modulation of arousal

The Raphe nucleus:part of the RAS involved in sleep, dreaming…an area likely

affected by SSRI’s and some hallucinogens

The PONS and the RAS- LC