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Axial section of the medulla at the level of the olive and the fourth ventricle

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An area of infarction is evident in the left lateral medulla. After the infarcted area has reached its greatest extent, it rapidly approaches its frontal pole, so that this section only shows the last remnants of the cerebral tip medioventrally from the nucleus solitarius, a uniformly light-colored area, which merges seamlessly into the normal surroundings. Only the lateral part of the dorsal reticular formation is directly destroyed at this level. All other changes concern secondary degenerations. Apart from a strong atrophy and fiber thinning within the ventral two-thirds of the crescent of the left spinal trigeminal tract and nucleus, a uniform yellow coloration is noticeable on the left half of the cross-section. The lateral section of this degeneration field is formed by the anterior spinocerebellar tract (ventral spinocerebellar tract; tractus spinocerebellaris ventralis; Gowers’ bundle), the medial section by the spinotectal fibers (spinomesencephalic fibers; fibrae spinotectales) and the spinothalamic tract (spinothalamicae, tract of Edinger). The fibers of the ventral trigeminal tract (ventral trigeminothalamic tract, anterior trigeminal tract, or anterior trigeminothalamic tract) are almost completely missing in their transverse course on the left and in their continuation on the right. (Source: Wallenberg A. Anatomischer Befund in einem als “acute Bulbär-aVection [Embolie der Art. cerebellar. post. inf. sinistr?]” bescreidenen Falle. Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten 1901;34:923-59. Edited by Dr. Douglas J Lanska.)