Midbrain

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka and Kim Jackson  

Introduction[edit | edit source]

The midbrain is a part of the central nervous system, located below the cerebral cortex and at the topmost part of the brainstem. This small but important structure plays a crucial role in processing visual and auditory signals.

  • Midbrain functions involve movement of the body and head, as it provides passage for downward pathways for the cerebral cortex.
  • It is a channel for the spinal cord transmitting stimuli (sensory) from the head and body to the direct brain.
  • Without the function of the midbrain, we wouldn’t be able to respond to threats or even move. eg if you accidentally touch your hand to a hot stove, your midbrain is what lets you jerk your hand back. The midbrain is what controls your motor movement and reflexes, letting you respond appropriately to situations like that[1][2].

Divisions[edit | edit source]

When viewed in cross-section, the midbrain can be divided into three portions:

  1. Tectum (posterior)
  2. Tegmentum
  3. Cerebral peduncles (anterior)[3]

Tectum[edit | edit source]

Mid-Brain Different Parts

Sitting posteriorly, the tectum (Latin for "roof" or "covering")  is composed of the tectal plate and superior and inferior colliculi. The tectum is unique to the midbrain and does not have a counterpart in the rest of the brainstem.

  1. Nerve cells within the superior colliculi process vision signals from the retina of the eye before channeling them on to the occipital lobe located at the back of the head.
  2. The inferior colliculi is responsible for processing auditory (hearing) signals before they are channeled through the thalamus and eventually to the primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe

Tegmentum[edit | edit source]

Ventral Brainstem, note Cerebral peduncles R top red.

The tegmentum is the phylogenetically-old part of the brainstem and runs through the pons and medulla oblongata. Its contents include:

  • A variety of ascending and descending tracts pass through the midbrain (eg the medial lemniscus and the anterolateral tracts)
  • Reticular formation: This highly diverse and integrative area contains a network of nuclei responsible for many vital functions including arousal, consciousness, sleep-wake cycles, coordination of certain movements, and cardiovascular control.
  • Spinothalamic tract: This major nerve pathway carries information about pain and temperature sensation from the body to the thalamus of the brain.
  • Corticospinal tract: This major nerve pathway carries movement-related information from the brain to the spinal cord.
  • The red nucleus is one of the brainstem nuclei, part of the extrapyramidal system, and is a portion of the motor system specifically dedicated to the modulation and regulation of movement.
  • Nuclei for two cranial nerves: cranial nerve III (oculomotor nerve) and cranial nerve IV (trochlear nerve).
  • Part of the raphe nuclei (clusters of serotonin-producing neurons found in the brainstem that send serotonin throughout the central nervous system);
  • Substantia nigra: crescent-shaped mass of nerve cells in the midbrain with a dynamic role. Although it is the smallest portion of the midbrain, it is involved in the regulation of gathering auditory and visual sensory information, motor control (primarily informed by the production and distribution of dopamine), reward-based learning patterns, and the Circadian rhythm.
  • Ventral tegmental area (VTA): This structure contains dopamine-producing cell bodies and plays a key role in the reward system.

Cerebral Peduncles[edit | edit source]

Substantia Nigra

Cerebral peduncles: Anterior to the tegmentum are the cerebral peduncles which are composed of the large ascending and descending tracts that run to and from the cerebrum[4]. It includes

  1. The cerebral peduncles contain part of the substantia nigrae, which (like the ventral tegmental area) contain large collections of dopamine-producing neurons.
  2. Periaqueductal gray (PAG) matter: This area plays a primary role in processing pain signals, autonomic function, and behavioral responses to fear and anxiety. Recently, this structure has been linked to controlling the defensive reactions associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)[4].

[5]

Blood Supply[edit | edit source]

Midbrain blood supply

The midbrain is supplied by the vertebrobasilar circulation, from small penetrating branches of the:

  • Basilar artery
  • Superior cerebellar artery
  • Posterior cerebral artery[3]

Imaging[edit | edit source]

Although neurologically vital, many of these small midbrain nuclei and white matter tracts are not easily individually identified on neuroimaging. However, given their diverse functions, midbrain pathology often leads to distinct clinical syndromes.[6]

Physiotherapy Relevance - Conditions[edit | edit source]

Optic-oculomotor-and-trochlear-nerve

The midbrain may be affected by a number of different pathological processes including stroke, tumor, a demyelinating process, infection, or a neurodegenerative disease.

Examples of specific conditions include the following:

  • Oculomotor (Third) Nerve Palsy
  • Trochlear (Fourth) Nerve Palsy[7]
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS): If the brainstem is affected, a patient may experience symptoms like: Vision changes, including diplopia; Problems swallowing (dysphagia); Problems speaking (dysarthria); Altered sensation or weakness of the face; Hearing difficulties; Ataxia; Headache that resembles a migraine; Rarely, problems that affect vital functions (e.g., breathing or heart rate).
  • Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disease, caused by the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the substantia nigra. As a result of this dopamine depletion, various symptoms may develop, including Resting tremor; Bradykinesia; Stiffness and shuffling gait; micrographia; Sleep troubles.
  • Midbrain atrophy is associated with the clinical presentation of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSPS), but not with the pathological diagnosis of PSP in the absence of the PSPS clinical syndrome.[8]
  • Midbrain infarct (stroke)
  • Midbrain Glioma, a type of brain tumour[3]
  • Particular syndromes associated with midbrain pathology include the Weber, Claude, Benedikt, Nothnagel, and Parinaud syndromes[6].

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Science trends The function of the midbrain Available from:https://sciencetrends.com/the-function-of-your-midbrain/ (accessed 24.4.2022)
  2. Vedantu Midbrain Available from:https://www.vedantu.com/biology/midbrain (accessed 23.4.20220
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Radiopedia Midbrain Available from: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/midbrain(accessed 23.4.2022)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Neuroscientifically challenged Know your midbrain Available from:https://neuroscientificallychallenged.com/posts/know-your-brain-midbrain (accessed 23.4.2022)
  5. Neuroscentifically Challenged. 2-Minute Neuroscience: Pons. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEep2XcAYo0[last accessed 25/1/2023]
  6. 6.0 6.1 Ruchalski K, Hathout GM. A medley of midbrain maladies: a brief review of midbrain anatomy and syndromology for radiologists. Radiology Research and Practice. 2012 Oct;2012:258524.
  7. Very Well health Midbrain Available from:https://www.verywellhealth.com/midbrain-anatomy-5093684 (accessed 23.4.2022)
  8. Whitwell JL, Jack Jr CR, Parisi JE, Gunter JL, Weigand SD, Boeve BF, et al. Midbrain atrophy is not a biomarker of progressive supranuclear palsy pathology. European journal of neurology. 2013 Oct;20(10):1417-22.