UIC Brainstem

This online version provides an annotated atlas of the images in the UIC Brainstem set. These 24 images are provided to assist you in understanding the anatomical relatioships between major landmarks and systems in the human central nervous system. These are myelin stained sections, which have traditionally been found to provide optimal contrast between nuclei, cortical lamina, myelinated tracts, and larger myelinated structures. Sections are generally organized into two slides at each level. Slide A emphasizes somatosensory and motor systems. Slide B emphasizes special sensory/motor systems, associational systems, structural and other major landmarks. Of course, this separation will not be perfect, especially as you ascend rostrally along the neural axis. However, everything is important to know.

Rather than doing rote memorization, use this excercise to help you understand these anatomical relationships. You will find that this information is essential to making neurological diagnoses following CNS injury or insult.

This app should work in Windows and MacOS, as well as on iOS and Android devices. Be patient when you first initiate this app while the app opens helper files to run the program. If you have a problem opening the app, an alternate link is provided.

Click here to begin

Alternate Link

Note about orientation: All images are presented in the dorsal/ventral plane of section, which is consistent with your Haines atlas and is the universally accepted antomical/embryological plane of view. The change of view between these stained images and the view seen in radiological images is highlighted in the Haines atlas. The issue revolves around the reality that radiological sections are locked in three dimensional space. Thus, as the sections ascend rostrally through the brainstem in the AP (anterior/posterior) view, the orientation suddenly changes from coronal to horizontal as the sections pass through the mesencephalic flexure. With experience, you will find it easy to translate between the two views.

Acknowledgements: The original Hypercard version of UIC Brainstem developed by Conwell H. Anderson, Ph.D. and Robert J. MacAuley, Ph.D. was ported to HTML/javascript by Uday R. Paul, M.D. (Class of 2000) and modified by James R. Unnerstall, Ph.D. The Macromedia/Adobe Flash version of UIC Brainstem was created by the Instructional Technology Lab, University of Illinois at Chicago in consultation with Drs. Anderson and Unnerstall. Grateful thanks go to Ed Garay, Ed Campbell, and Candace Woodson of the ITL for their work. We also thank Gregory Blew and Thersa Mullen of the Department of Biomedical Visualization for their assistance. Finally, we thank Christina Wheeler of the Department of Biomedical Visualization who, in collaboratiion with Dr. Unnerstall, developed this latest version using Articulate-Storyline.

Direct all inquiries to Dr. Unnerstall.