4 structures in the midline beginning with M

  • motor pathway (corticospinal)
  • medial lemniscus
  • motor nuclei for cranial nerves
  • medial longitudinal fasciculus

4 lateral structures beginning with S

  • Spinocerebellar
  • Spinothalamic
  • Sensory nucleus of CN V
  • Sympathetic pathway

4 cranial nerves in medulla, pons + above the pons (2 in midbrain)

  • I, II (above), III, IV in midbrain
  • V, VI, VII, VIII in pons
  • IX, X, XI, XII in medulla

4 motor cranial nerve nuclei in midline divide into 12 (except I + II)

  • so III, IV, VI, XII
  • therefore V, VII, IX, XI are in lateral brainstem