Lab 1 - Overview of the Nervous System
Rhombencephalon - Metencephalon (Pons, Cerebellum) and Myelencephalon (Medulla)
Cerebellum
The cerebellum consists of two convoluted hemispheres on the posterior surface of the brain stem. It plays an important role in motor control and the coordination of movements.
Pons
The pons is continuous with the midbrain and can be easily identified by its bulge on the anterior surface of the brainstem.
Medulla (Myelencephalon)
The medulla or medulla oblongata is continuous with the pons rostrally and with the spinal cord caudally. The pons and medulla are vital to survival, because they contain nuclei of cranial nerves whose functions in many cases are life sustaining. In addition, fiber pathways connecting the upper (telencephalic) and lower (spinal cord) regions of the central nervous system pass through the pons-medulla. This is one of the few places in the nervous system where localized damage, such as an infarct (blockage) or hemorrhage, can be life-threatening.
