PSY346H5 Midterm: NEUROANATOMY AND NEUROCHEMISTRY
Document Summary
Major regulatory site for basic vegetative and maintenance activities. Nuclei in the medulla regulate respiration and cardiovascular functions (heartbeat, blood pressure) and control muscle tone. It is a rich neural structure with multiple types of neurons and neurochemicals. Via its multiple fiber pathways for nerve impulses entering and leaving the brain, the medulla directly controls signals to and from more rostral brain areas and the periphery of the body. Controls and creates a variety of gross and fine movements. Large bulge in the hindbrain ventral to the cerebellum that relays information from the cerebellum to the cerebral cortex and regulates arousal. Contains portion of the reticular formation, a staggering variety of nuclei and fiber pathways that play a primary role in arousal, attention, sleep and wakefulness. The number of neuronal connections between and within the pons and other structures in the brain suggests that the pons is a very important regulator of sensorimotor activities and a hub of information transfer.
