Mid brain parts

• 1 External Anatomy of the Midbrain • 1.1 Tectum • 1.2 Cerebral Peduncles • 2 Internal Anatomy of the Midbrain • 2.1 Level of the Inferior Colliculus • 2.2 Level of the Superior Colliculus • 3 Vasculature The midbrain (also known as the mesencephalon) is the most superior of the three regions of the brainstem. It acts as a conduit between the forebrain above and the pons and cerebellum below. In this article, we will discuss the anatomy of the midbrain – its external anatomy, internal anatomy, and vasculature. External Anatomy of the Midbrain The midbrain is the smallest of the three regions of the brainstem, measuring around 2cm in length. As it ascends, the midbrain travels through the opening in the It can be divided into two main parts: • Tectum – located posterior to the cerebral aqueduct • Paired cerebral peduncles – located anteriorly and laterally. • Internally, the cerebral peduncles are further separated by the substania nigra into the crus cerebri (anterior) and the tegmentum (posterior). Tectum The tectum houses four rounded prominences named colliculi (collectively the corpora quadrigemina) which sit directly inferior to the Extending laterally from each colliculi are the quadrigeminal brachium: • Superior quadrigeminal brachium forms a pathway between the superior colliculus and the retina of the eye. • Inferior quadrigeminal brachium conveys fibres from the lateral lemniscus and inferior colliculus to the medial geniculate body. Inferior to the colliculi, t...

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Located towards the base of your brain is a small but important region called the midbrain (derived from the developmental mesencephalon), which serves as a vital connection point between the other major regions of the brain - the forebrain and the hindbrain. The midbrain is the topmost part of the brainstem, the connection central between the brain and the spinal cord. There are three main parts of the midbrain - the colliculi, the tegmentum, and the cerebral peduncles. Of the 12 cranial nerves, two thread directly from the midbrain - the oculomotor and trochlear nerves, responsible for eye and eyelid movement. Colliculi At the top of the midbrain are the colliculi, which derives its name from the Latin word for ‘hill. It contains two pairs of bulging, layered bundles of cortex. Tegmentum The tegmentum (Latin for ‘hood’) actually stretches down the length of the brainstem, but a portion of it forms a part of the midbrain. It contains two areas named after specific colours: the iron-rich red nucleus (which actually looks pink) is involved in the coordination of movements; the periaqueductal grey is a dense region of grey matter and is involved in suppressing pain. The tegmentum in the midbrain also contains connections that play a role in keeping us alert. Cerebral peduncles The back of the midbrain contains a pair of large nerve fibre bundles that connect the rest of the brainstem to the forebrain. These cerebral peduncles are the main highway for signals that need to be ...

Dan Washmuth Dan has taught college Nutrition, Anatomy, and Medical Terminology courses. He has a B.S. in Exercise Physiology from Furman University and a M.S. in Dietetics & Nutrition from Florida International University. He is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and a Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) • Instructor Midbrain definition: The midbrain, which also goes by the name mesencephalon is the top portion of the brainstem. The brainstem consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata, and it connects the cerebrum, which is the largest part of the brain, with the spinal cord. Collectively, the brainstem plays an important role in many bodily functions, such as seeing, hearing, breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. However, each of the three sections of the brainstem has its own structures and functions. What is the midbrain responsible for? The midbrain functions as the ''information superhighway'' of the brain. This means it serves as a passageway for information about vision, hearing, and motor movements between different parts of the brain. The Neural 'Information Superhighway' Have you ever heard the Internet referred to as the 'information superhighway'? It's a bit of a dated term now, but it was coined in the late '70s, during the advent of fast, cable-based communication. That's right, way back in the days of the dial-up modem! You might be asking, what does this have to do with the midbrain? Well, the midbrain is the biological equivalent of the Intern...

Overview What is the brainstem? The brainstem is the stalklike part of your brain that connects your brain to your spinal cord (column of nerve tissue that runs down your spine). It sits toward the bottom of your brain and is part of your central Your brainstem helps regulate some body functions, including your breathing and Function What does the brainstem do? Your brainstem sends messages between your brain and other parts of your body. Your brainstem helps coordinate the messages that regulate: • Balance. • • Breathing. • Facial sensations. • • Heart rhythms. • Swallowing. Your brainstem also contains 10 of the 12 cranial nerves (nerves that start in your brain). These nerves control your facial movements, sensations and taste. How does your brainstem perform with your brain? Your brain has three parts that work together. Each part does specific jobs to help you process information, move and function. Your brainstem is one of these three parts. It regulates many of the body functions that feel “automatic,” like breathing or swallowing. Anatomy What are the parts of the brainstem? Your brainstem consists of three parts: • Midbrain: The top part of the brainstem is crucial for regulating eye movements. • Pons: The middle portion of the brainstem coordinates facial movements, hearing and balance. • Medulla oblongata : The bottom part of the brainstem helps regulate your breathing, heart rhythms, blood pressure and swallowing. Your brainstem also contains your reticular act...

• It receives information from the inner ear's balance system, sensory nerves, and auditory and visual systems. It is involved in the coordination of movements as well as motor learning. • It is also associated with motor movement and control, but this is not because the motor commands originate here. Instead, the cerebellum modifies these signals and makes motor movements accurate and useful. • The cerebellum helps control posture, balance, and the coordination of voluntary movements. This allows different muscle groups to act together and produce coordinated fluid movement. • In addition to playing an essential role in motor control, the cerebellum is also important in certain cognitive functions, including speech. The Amygdala The amygdala is a cluster of nuclei located close to the base of the brain. It is primarily involved in functions including memory, emotion, and the body's The structure processes external stimuli and then relays that information to the hippocampus, which can then prompt a response to deal with outside threats. The Thalamus Located above the brainstem, the thalamus processes and transmits movement and It is essentially a relay station, taking in sensory information and then passing it on to the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex also sends information to the thalamus, which then sends this information to other systems. The Hippocampus The hippocampus is a structure located in the temporal lobe. It is important in memory and learning and is somet...

What is the brain? The brain is a complex organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, hunger and every process that regulates our body. Together, the brain and spinal cord that extends from it make up the central nervous system, or CNS. What is the brain made of? Weighing about 3 pounds in the average adult, the brain is about 60% fat. The remaining 40% is a combination of water, protein, carbohydrates and salts. The brain itself is a not a muscle. It contains blood vessels and nerves, including neurons and glial cells. What is the gray matter and white matter? Gray and white matter are two different regions of the central nervous system. In the brain, gray matter refers to the darker, outer portion, while white matter describes the lighter, inner section underneath. In the spinal cord, this order is reversed: The white matter is on the outside, and the gray matter sits within. Gray matter is primarily composed of neuron somas (the round central cell bodies), and white matter is mostly made of axons (the long stems that connects neurons together) wrapped in myelin (a protective coating). The different composition of neuron parts is why the two appear as separate shades on certain scans. Each region serves a different role. Gray matter is primarily responsible for processing and interpreting information, while white matter transmits that information to other parts of the nervous system. How does the brain work? The brai...

Overview What is the brainstem? The brainstem is the stalklike part of your brain that connects your brain to your spinal cord (column of nerve tissue that runs down your spine). It sits toward the bottom of your brain and is part of your central Your brainstem helps regulate some body functions, including your breathing and Function What does the brainstem do? Your brainstem sends messages between your brain and other parts of your body. Your brainstem helps coordinate the messages that regulate: • Balance. • • Breathing. • Facial sensations. • • Heart rhythms. • Swallowing. Your brainstem also contains 10 of the 12 cranial nerves (nerves that start in your brain). These nerves control your facial movements, sensations and taste. How does your brainstem perform with your brain? Your brain has three parts that work together. Each part does specific jobs to help you process information, move and function. Your brainstem is one of these three parts. It regulates many of the body functions that feel “automatic,” like breathing or swallowing. Anatomy What are the parts of the brainstem? Your brainstem consists of three parts: • Midbrain: The top part of the brainstem is crucial for regulating eye movements. • Pons: The middle portion of the brainstem coordinates facial movements, hearing and balance. • Medulla oblongata : The bottom part of the brainstem helps regulate your breathing, heart rhythms, blood pressure and swallowing. Your brainstem also contains your reticular act...

Dan Washmuth Dan has taught college Nutrition, Anatomy, and Medical Terminology courses. He has a B.S. in Exercise Physiology from Furman University and a M.S. in Dietetics & Nutrition from Florida International University. He is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and a Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP-C) • Instructor Midbrain definition: The midbrain, which also goes by the name mesencephalon is the top portion of the brainstem. The brainstem consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata, and it connects the cerebrum, which is the largest part of the brain, with the spinal cord. Collectively, the brainstem plays an important role in many bodily functions, such as seeing, hearing, breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. However, each of the three sections of the brainstem has its own structures and functions. What is the midbrain responsible for? The midbrain functions as the ''information superhighway'' of the brain. This means it serves as a passageway for information about vision, hearing, and motor movements between different parts of the brain. The Neural 'Information Superhighway' Have you ever heard the Internet referred to as the 'information superhighway'? It's a bit of a dated term now, but it was coined in the late '70s, during the advent of fast, cable-based communication. That's right, way back in the days of the dial-up modem! You might be asking, what does this have to do with the midbrain? Well, the midbrain is the biological equivalent of the Intern...

Located towards the base of your brain is a small but important region called the midbrain (derived from the developmental mesencephalon), which serves as a vital connection point between the other major regions of the brain - the forebrain and the hindbrain. The midbrain is the topmost part of the brainstem, the connection central between the brain and the spinal cord. There are three main parts of the midbrain - the colliculi, the tegmentum, and the cerebral peduncles. Of the 12 cranial nerves, two thread directly from the midbrain - the oculomotor and trochlear nerves, responsible for eye and eyelid movement. Colliculi At the top of the midbrain are the colliculi, which derives its name from the Latin word for ‘hill. It contains two pairs of bulging, layered bundles of cortex. Tegmentum The tegmentum (Latin for ‘hood’) actually stretches down the length of the brainstem, but a portion of it forms a part of the midbrain. It contains two areas named after specific colours: the iron-rich red nucleus (which actually looks pink) is involved in the coordination of movements; the periaqueductal grey is a dense region of grey matter and is involved in suppressing pain. The tegmentum in the midbrain also contains connections that play a role in keeping us alert. Cerebral peduncles The back of the midbrain contains a pair of large nerve fibre bundles that connect the rest of the brainstem to the forebrain. These cerebral peduncles are the main highway for signals that need to be ...