Reticular Formation And Neural Pathways Question And Answers

Describe Reticular Formation under following heads

Reticular Formation Gross anatomy,
Reticular Formation Connections,
Reticular Formation Functions, and
Reticular Formation Applied anatomy.

1. Reticular Formation Gross anatomy
   • Definition: It is a network of small cells with fibres of ascending, descending, crossed, uncrossed and transverse mixed with numerous poorly defined nuclei .
   • Evolution: Phylogenetically, it is the oldest part.
   • Location: It is present mainly in the deep and dorsal part of brainstem. It can be traced cranially to the brain and caudally to the spinal cord.
2. Reticular Formation Reticular FormationConnections: It has afferent and efferent connections.
   • Afferent
     
     • Spinoreticular,
     • Cerebelloreticular,
     • Vestibuloreticular,

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• • • Thalamoreticular (from thalamus, subthalamus and hypothalamus),
    • Strioreticular, and
    • Septoreticular.
  • Efferent:
    • Brainstem and spinal cord
    • Reticulobulbar, and
    • Reticulospinal.
    • Midbrain
    • Reticulomesencephalic (to red nucleus and tectum of midbrain)
    • Some Neural Pathways and Reticular Formation
    • Cerebral cortex
    • Reticulocortical,
    • Reticulostriate, and
    • Reticulothalamic.

1. Reticular Formation Functions: It is the ascending activating system responsible for alertness and awareness which boosters the activities. It can be summarized as
   • Somatosensory
   • Somatomotor,
   • Visceromotor,
   • Neuroendocrinal,
   • Alertness,
   • Awareness,
   • Consciousness, Reward, and
   • Award.
     
     • Somatosensory: It has connections with sensory tracts with number of collaterals.
     • Somatomotor: Certain areas of reticular formation inhibit voluntary and reflex activities of the body. Some areas facilitate them.
     • Visceromotor: It influences respiratory and vasomotor activities.
     • Neuroendocrinal: It takes part in the Neuroendocrinal regulation, and Development of conditioned and learned reflexes.
     • Alertness: It is responsible for maintaining the state of alertness through its collaterals.
     • Awareness: It maintains the state of wakefulness.
     • Consciousness: It maintains mental consciousness, attention, sleep and waking, H. Reward, and Award.
2. Reticular Formation Applied Anatomy
   Brainstem injury affects reticular system. It results in loss of consciousness or interference in arousal mechanism.
   Disorders of reticular system manifest as
   Narcolepsy: It is recurrent, uncontrollable, brief episodes of sleep.
   Cataplexy: A condition in which there are abrupt attacks of muscular weakness and hypotonia triggered by an emotional stimulus such as anger, fear or surprise.