Trigeminal nerve nuclei
Encyclopedia
The sensory
trigeminal nerve nuclei are the largest of the cranial nerve nuclei
, and extend through the whole of the midbrain, pons
and medulla
.
The nucleus is divided into three parts, from rostral to caudal (top to bottom in humans):
The spinal trigeminal nucleus is further subdivided into three parts, from rostral to caudal:
There is also a distinct trigeminal motor nucleus
that is medial to the chief sensory nucleus.
Sensory system
A sensory system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information. A sensory system consists of sensory receptors, neural pathways, and parts of the brain involved in sensory perception. Commonly recognized sensory systems are those for vision, hearing, somatic...
trigeminal nerve nuclei are the largest of the cranial nerve nuclei
Cranial nerve nucleus
A cranial nerve nucleus is a collection of neurons in the brain stem that is associated with one or more cranial nerves. Axons carrying information to and from the cranial nerves form a synapse first at these nuclei. Lesions occurring at these nuclei can lead to effects resembling those seen by...
, and extend through the whole of the midbrain, pons
Pons
The pons is a structure located on the brain stem, named after the Latin word for "bridge" or the 16th-century Italian anatomist and surgeon Costanzo Varolio . It is superior to the medulla oblongata, inferior to the midbrain, and ventral to the cerebellum. In humans and other bipeds this means it...
and medulla
Medulla oblongata
The medulla oblongata is the lower half of the brainstem. In discussions of neurology and similar contexts where no ambiguity will result, it is often referred to as simply the medulla...
.
The nucleus is divided into three parts, from rostral to caudal (top to bottom in humans):
- The mesencephalic nucleus
- The chief sensory nucleus (or "pontine nucleus" or "main sensory nucleus" or "primary nucleus" or "principle nucleus")
- The spinal trigeminal nucleusSpinal trigeminal nucleusThe spinal trigeminal nucleus is a nucleus in the medulla that receives information about deep/crude touch, pain, and temperature from the ipsilateral face. The facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves also convey pain information from their areas to the spinal trigeminal nucleus.This nucleus...
The spinal trigeminal nucleus is further subdivided into three parts, from rostral to caudal:
- Pars Oralis
- Pars Interpolaris
- Pars Caudalis
There is also a distinct trigeminal motor nucleus
Trigeminal motor nucleus
The trigeminal motor nucleus contains motor neurons that innervate muscles of the first branchial arch, namely the muscles of mastication, the tensor tympani, tensor veli palatini, mylohyoid, and anterior belly of the digastric.-External links:*...
that is medial to the chief sensory nucleus.