Brainstem Lateral View Detail

Brainstem

Readings: BCN 3; Read the web sections to the left.

Line of View for picture

The Ventral Surface of the Brainstem
The brainstem is primarily composed of the pyramidal tract from the spinal cord and pathways from the cerebellum and cranial nerve nuclei. The pons contains fiber tracts connecting the medulla oblongata and cerebellum with upper levels of the brain. The medulla oblongata is the first division of the brainstem. It represents the enlarged portion of the spinal cord as it enters the skull.