Medulla oblongata 1

It means bulb
Definition - it is lower part of brain stem
Extent - from lower border of Pons to first cervical
vertebrae
Situation - in anterior part of posterior cranial
fossa
Relations -
In front - basilar part of occipital bone
Behind - vallecula of cerebrum
Shape - pyriform
Length - 3cm
Transverse - 2cm
Anteriorposteror - 1.5 cm
Parts - it has two parts upper open part containing
4th ventricle
Lower closed part containing central canal
External features -
 A) Two median fissures - divides medulla in
two equal parts
1. Anteromedian –
2. Posteromedian - it present only in lower half
of medulla
B) two sulci –
1. Anterolateral – present in each half of
medulla lies bet pyramid & olive in which
there is exit of 12th nerve
2. Posteriolateral – bet olive & ICP exit of
9,10,11th nerve
C) Regions - it has three regions
1. Anterior - bet Anteromedian fissure &
anterolateral sulcus it shows pyramid which
contains pyramidal tracts
Anterior external arcuate fibers in upper
part
2. Lateral region - bet anterolateral &
posteriolateral sulcus it shows
a) Olive - in upper part an oval shape elevation
containing inferior-olivary nucleus
3. Posterior part - bet posteriolateral sulcus &
Posteromedian fissure it shows ICP in upper
part
In lower part fasciculus gracilis, gracile tubercle
Fasciculus cuneatus cuneate tubercle & tuberculum
cinereum
Taenia with obex of fourth ventricle
Internal structure – at three levels
1. TS through lower part of medulla passing
through pyramidal Decussation
White matter –
1. Decussation of pyramids
2. Dorsal & ventral spinocerebellar tracts in lateral
column peripheral region
3. Lateral spinothalmic tracts lies in front of ventral
Spinal tract of fifth nerve
Fasciculus gracilis & cuneatus dorsally medially &
laterally
Grey matter
1. Anterior horn of central grey matter is
separated by Decussation of pyramidal tracts
2. Central grey matter is pushed dorsally
3. Lower end of nucleus gracilis
 4. Substantia geatinosa (rolandi ) is continuous
with lower end of nucleus of spinal tract of
5th nerve situated at the apex of posterior
grey column
At the level of sensory Decussation i.e. in
middle part of medulla
White matter
1. The nucleus gracilis & cuneatus gives rise to
internal Arcuate fibres these fibers cross to
opposite side where they form paramedian
band of fibres called as medial lemniscus in
this the body represented with head
posteriorly & feet anteriorly internal Arcuate
fibers surrounds the central grey matter
2. Pyramidal tract lies anteriorly
3. MLB lies posteriorly to medial lemniscus
4. Spinocerebellar & lateral spinothalmic tract
lies in antero-lateral area
Grey matter
1. Nucleus gracilis & cuneatus separated from
central grey matter fasciculus gracilis &
cuneatus ends in these nucleus
 2. Accessory cuneate nucleus - it lies lateral to
cuneate nucleus rely the fibers from upper
limb
3. Nucleus of spinal tract of 5th nerve also
separated from grey matter by internal
Arcuate fibers situated dorso-laterally
4. Inferior olivary nucleus - lies deep to olive
5. Central grey matter is reduced & contains
a) Hypoglossal nucleus
b) Dorsal nucleus of vagus
c) Nucleus of tractus solitarius
TS through upper part of medulla passing through
the floor of 4th ventricle