Dr Najwa Hanim Md Rosli
It is a loose network of neurons lying in the midline
of the brain stem, not anatomically well defined as it
includes neurons located in diverse parts of the
central nervous system.
Consists of a portion of the brain stem where the
fibres described to have a ‘netlike’ appearance
Receives data from most of the sensory systems and
has efferent connections with all levels of the CNS
The reticular formation can be divided into two different parts,
the ascending and descending reticular formation tract.
The ascending reticular formation is also called the
reticular activating system. It is responsible for the sleep-
wake cycle, thereby controlling the level of alertness. It also
projects to the thalamus, which also plays a role in
wakefulness. From there, information is sent to the cortex for
further processing.
The descending reticular formation is involved in autonomic
nervous system activity. It receives it's information from the
hypothalamus. It plays a role in motor movement, including
posture and equilibrium (reticulospinal tract). The descending
reticular nuclei in the brain mediate reflexive behaviors like
coughing, chewing, swallowing and vomiting.
The reticular activating system is the name given to the part
of the brain (the reticular formation and its connections)
believed to be the center of arousal and motivation in animals
(including humans).
The activity of this system is crucial for maintaining the state
of consciousness. It is situated at the core of the brain stem
between the myelencephalon (medulla oblongata) and
mesencephalon (midbrain).
Damage to certain part of the RAS can lead to permanent
coma. It is thought to be the area affected by many
psychotropic drugs. General anaesthetics work through their
effect on the reticular formation.
Fibers from the reticular formation are also vital in controlling
respiration, cardiac rhythms, and other essential functions.
Arousal
Regulation of arousal and the level of consciousness is a
generalized function of reticular formation. The RF in
nonspecific to its stimuli (eg: auditory, visual) and
performs a generalized regulatory function.
When there is a stimulation, attention is focused on it
while general alertness increase. When stimulus is
repeated, the arousal response becomes habituated
(dies down).
In fact, it is well known that repetitive stimuli such as
counting sheep or inducing hypnosis will reduce cortical
activity calming a person to sleep.
If RF is depressed / destroyed, sensory stimuli will still
produce activity in the specific thalamic and cortical
sensory area but will not produce generalized cortical
arousal
Consciousness -
Arousal, which abolished by lesion in the
RF, did not impaired consciousness.
The cortex and midbrain RAS are
mutually needed in maintaining
consciousness.
Lesions that destroy large area of
cortex, a small area in midbrain or both
produce coma (unresponsive and can’t
be aroused)
Sleep
Sensory function
Spinoreticulothalamocortical pathway - involved in pain
Motor function
Extrapyramidal system influences spinal motor
neurones via reticulospinal pathways
Vegetative function
Lateral reticular formation maintains respiration & BP
(autonomic regulation)
STRUCTURE FUNCTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Raphe Nuclei Rostral nuclei are part of
ascending reticular activating
system concerned with sleep,
wakefulness and alertness
Locus Ceruleus Ascending noradrenegic system
involved in attention, mood and
sleep-wake system
Nucleus Reticularis Reticulospinal regulation of spinal
Gigantocellularis cord lower motor neurons
Paramedian Lateral gaze centre
Pontine Reticular
Formation
EXCITATORY - Making up most of the reticular formation
Stimulation in this region lead to an increase in muscle
tone either generally or locally
Excitatory activity is kept balance because of inhibition by
basal ganglia, cerebellum and cerebral cortex
Experimentally, mammals that have the higher centre removed, lose
this inhibition and demonstrate rigidity of the antigravity extensor
muscle
INHIBITORY - Consisting of a small part in the
reticular formation
Stimulation in this region leads to decreased in
muscle tone; generally or locally
The inhibitory impulses from this region in not
intrinsic (not effecting local areas rather this region
serves to channel the inhibitory signals mentioned
above, from basal ganglia, cerebellum and cerebral
cortex
Reticular formation nuclei can be divided
into 3 major group:
Lateral group nuclei
Medial group nuclei
Column of raphe nuclei
It relate to locomotion and autonomic
regulation (not so much in sleep wake cycle)
Nucleus reticularis lateralis in the medulla
Nucleus reticularis parvocellularis in medulla
and pons
Parabrachial and pedunculopontine in the
pons and midbrain
Cuneiform and subcuneiform in the midbrain
Descending connections play a role in motor
control (reticulospinal tract)
Ascending connections play a role in
consciousness and alertness
Nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis
Nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis and oralis in
the pons
Caudal nuclei concerned with pain mechanism
Rostral nuclei relate to sleep, wakefulness and
alertness
Raphe obscurus and pallidus in medulla
Raphe magnus in pons and medulla
Dorsal raphe and superior central nuclei in
midbrain
cells contain large quantities of
noradrenaline
AFFERENTS EFFERENTS
some raphe nuclei cerebral cortex
hypothalamus diencephalon
amygdala and brain stem
cingulate gyrus cerebellum
spinal cord
modulation of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, sexuality,
appetite, and metabolism, as well as stimulating vomiting. [1]
the neurones of the raphe produce
serotonin and use this as a
neurotransmitter
AFFERENTS EFFERENTS
spinal cord Thalamus
primary motor cortex of the hypothalamus
frontal lobe spinal cord
parietal lobe
vestibular nuclei
cerebellar nuclei
periaqueductal grey matter
Correlative Neuroanatomy,24th Edition, Stephen G.
Waxman, LANGE / Mc Graw-Hill
Netter’s Atlas in Neuroanatomy
Illustrated Neuroanatomy
