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Anatomy of the Reticular Formation

The reticular formation is a diffuse network of neurons in the brainstem that plays a central role in regulating consciousness and arousal. It consists of interconnected circuits of neurons in the thalamus and brainstem. These neurons are involved in functions like arousal, attention, consciousness, and modulating sensory input and autonomic activity. Damage to the reticular formation or large areas of the cortex can cause coma.

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83 views16 pages

Anatomy of the Reticular Formation

The reticular formation is a diffuse network of neurons in the brainstem that plays a central role in regulating consciousness and arousal. It consists of interconnected circuits of neurons in the thalamus and brainstem. These neurons are involved in functions like arousal, attention, consciousness, and modulating sensory input and autonomic activity. Damage to the reticular formation or large areas of the cortex can cause coma.

Uploaded by

Luke Woon
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • The Reticular Formation
  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Functions
  • Glasgow Coma Scale
  • References

The Reticular Formation

Introduction
• Reticular formation is a diffuse but highly-
organized network of neurons distributed
through the tegmentum of brainstem
• It plays a central role in the regulation of the
state of consciousness and arousal
• Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as
the reticular activating system
Anatomy
• Not anatomically well-defined because it
includes neurons from diverse parts of brain
• Its name derives from the characteristic
appearance of loosely packed cells of various
sizes and shapes, embedded in a dense
network of axons and dendrites
• Reticulum = small net (Latin)
Anatomy
• Consists of interconnected circuits of neurons
in the tegmentum, the lateral hypothalamic
area, and the medial, intralaminar, and
reticular nuclei of the thalamus
Anatomy
Anatomy
• Many of these neurons are serotonergic, or
noradrenergic
• Axons from these non-specific thalamic nuclei
project to most of the cerebral cortex,
modulating the level of activity of large
numbers of neurons
Anatomy
• Also gives rise to descending axons in the
reticulospinal tract, which may play a role in
modulating:
– Spinal reflex activity
– Sensory input, and
– Autonomic activity in the spinal cord
Anatomy
• Brainstem RF can be subdivided into 3 zones:
– Lateral zone: “afferent zone”, receives
sensory input
– Medial zone: “efferent zone”, forms central
tegmental tract
– Midline zone: nuclei of raphe and
periaqueductal grey
Anatomy
Functions
Arousal
• Excited by sensory stimuli of various
modalities that are conducted by the way of
collaterals from the somatosensory, auditory,
visual, and visceral sensory systems to
reticular formation
• Produces output in a non-specific manner to a
large area of cortex, thereby performs a
generalized regulatory function
Function
• Behavioural arousal: Attention is focused on a
new stimulus is received, and general
alertness increases.
• It is independent of the modality of the
stimulus and is accompanied by EEG changes
over much of cortex
Functions
Consciousness
• Many areas of the cerebral cortex produce
generalized arousal when stimulated
• The cortex and the mecencephalic RAS are
mutually sustaining areas in maintaining
consciousness
• Lesions that destroy large area of cortex
and/or midbrain may produce coma
Functions
Functions
Causes of coma:
• Intracranial: TBI, CVA, infections, tumours, ↑
ICP
• Extracranial: vascular, e.g. shock
metabolic, e.g. DKA, uraemia
intoxication, e.g. narcotics, CO
miscellaneous, e.g. hyperthermia
Glasgow Coma Scale
References
• Waxman SG. Clinical neuroanatomy. 26th ed.
New York: McGraw-Hill; 2010. p 225-228.
• Noback CR, Strominger NL, Demarest RJ,
Ruggiero DA. The human nervous system:
structure and function. 6th ed. Totowa:
Humana Press; 2005. p 387-390.

The Reticular Formation
Introduction • Reticular formation is a diffuse but highly- organized network of neurons distributed through the tegmentum o
Anatomy • Not anatomically well-defined because it includes neurons from diverse parts of brain • Its name derives from the
Anatomy • Consists of interconnected circuits of neurons in the tegmentum, the lateral hypothalamic area, and the medial, i
Anatomy
Anatomy • Many of these neurons are serotonergic, or noradrenergic • Axons from these non-specific thalamic nuclei project
Anatomy • Also gives rise to descending axons in the reticulospinal tract, which may play a role in modulating: –Spinal ref
Anatomy • Brainstem RF can be subdivided into 3 zones: –Lateral zone: “afferent zone”, receives sensory input –Medial zone:
Anatomy
Functions Arousal • Excited by sensory stimuli of various modalities that are conducted by the way of collaterals from the

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