The middle cerebellar peduncle (brachium pontis) is a paired structure of the

brain A brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ in a v ...

. It connects the

pons The pons (from Latin , "bridge") is part of the brainstem that in humans and other bipeds lies inferior to the midbrain, superior to the medulla oblongata and anterior to the cerebellum. The pons is also called the pons Varolii ("bridge of Va ...

to the

cerebellum The cerebellum (Latin for "little brain") is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as or even larger. In humans, the cerebel ...

, with fibres originating from the

pontine nucleus Pontine may refer to: * Having to do with the pons, a structure located in the brain stem (from ''pons'', "bridge") * Pontine Marshes, a region of Italy near Rome * Pontine Islands The Pontine Islands (, also ; it, Isole Ponziane ) are an ar ...

and travelling to the opposite hemisphere of the

cerebellar cortex The cerebellum (Latin for "little brain") is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as or even larger. In humans, the cerebel ...

. It is supplied by the

anterior inferior cerebellar artery The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is one of three pairs of arteries that supplies blood to the cerebellum. It arises from the basilar artery on each side at the level of the junction between the medulla oblongata and the pons in the ...

(AICA) and branches from the

basilar artery The basilar artery () is one of the arteries that supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood. The two vertebral arteries and the basilar artery are known as the vertebral basilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of the circle of W ...

. It conveys information from the

cerebrum The cerebrum, telencephalon or endbrain is the largest part of the brain containing the cerebral cortex (of the two cerebral hemispheres), as well as several subcortical structures, including the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfactory bulb. In ...

and the

to the

Structure

The middle cerebellar peduncle connects the

to the

. It only contains fibres from the pons to the cerebellum. The fibers arise from the

, and travel to the opposite hemisphere of the

. Fibers cross over before entering the middle cerebellar peduncle and the cerebellum. The fibers of the middle cerebellar peduncle are arranged in three fasciculi: superior, inferior, and deep. * The ''superior fasciculus'', the most superficial, is derived from the upper transverse fibers of the pons; it is directed backward and lateralward superficial to the other two fasciculi, and is distributed mainly to the lobules on the inferior surface of the cerebellar hemisphere and to the parts of the superior surface adjoining the posterior and lateral margins. * The ''inferior fasciculus'' is formed by the lowest transverse fibers of the

; it passes under cover of the superior fasciculus and is continued downward and backward more or less parallel with it, to be distributed to the

folia ''La Folía'' (Spanish), or ''Follies'' (English), also known as ''folies d'Espagne'' (French), ''La Follia'' (Italian), and ''Folia'' (Portuguese), is one of the oldest remembered European musical themes, or primary material, generally melodic, ...

on the under surface close to the

vermis The cerebellar vermis (from Latin ''vermis,'' "worm") is located in the medial, cortico-nuclear zone of the cerebellum, which is in the posterior fossa of the cranium. The primary fissure in the vermis curves ventrolaterally to the superior s ...

. * The ''deep fasciculus'' comprises most of the deep transverse fibers of the pons. It is at first covered by the superior and inferior fasciculi, but crosses obliquely and appears on the medial side of the superior, from which it receives a bundle; its fibers spread out and pass to the upper anterior cerebellar folia. The fibers of this fasciculus cover those of the

inferior cerebellar peduncle The upper part of the posterior district of the medulla oblongata is occupied by the inferior cerebellar peduncle, a thick rope-like strand situated between the lower part of the fourth ventricle and the roots of the glossopharyngeal and vagus ner ...

. The

trigeminal nerve In neuroanatomy, the trigeminal nerve ( lit. ''triplet'' nerve), also known as the fifth cranial nerve, cranial nerve V, or simply CN V, is a cranial nerve responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as biting and chewin ...

(CN V) arises from the lateral pons very close to the middle cerebellar peduncle.

Blood supply

The middle cerebellar peduncle is supplied by the

(AICA), as well as smaller branches from the

Function

The middle cerebellar peduncle conveys information from the

and the

to the

Clinical significance

Infarction of the

(AICA) can damage the middle cerebellar peduncle.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma Diffuse midline glioma (DMG), previously called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a fatal tumour that arises in the brainstem; most commonly in the pons or thalamus. DMG is believed to be caused by genetic mutations that cause epigenetic ...

may spread from the pons into the middle cerebellar peduncle.

History

The middle cerebellar peduncle may also be known as the brachium pontis.

Additional images

File:Gray677.png, Scheme showing the connections of the several parts of the brain. File:Gray682.png, Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view. File:Gray719.png, Hind- and mid-brains; postero-lateral view. File:Gray792.png, Upper part of medulla spinalis and hind- and mid-brains; posterior aspect, exposed in situ. File:Gehirn, basal - beschriftet lat.svg, Basal view of a human brain File:Human brainstem-thalamus posterior view description.JPG, Dissection of human midbrain with middle cerebellar peduncle labeled. File:Lower pons horizontal KB.svg, Cross section through lower pons showing part of the middle cerebellar peduncle (#19) forming from the convergence of pontocerebellar fibers. File:Slide8dd.JPG, Middle cerebellar peduncle File:Slide2cuc.JPG, Cerebrum. Deep dissection. Inferior dissection. File:Slide2PITER.JPG, Fourth ventricle. Posterior view.Deep dissection. File:Slide2MIR.JPG, Cerebrum.Inferior view.Deep dissection. File:Slide3MIR.JPG, Cerebrum.Inferior view.Deep dissection. File:Slide4MIR.JPG, Cerebrum.Inferior view.Deep dissection. File:Slide2SEER.JPG, Cerebellum. Inferior surface. File:Slide3EER.JPG, Cerebellum. Inferior surface. File:Slide4SER.JPG, Cerebellum. Inferior surface.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Cerebellar connections Pons

Structure

Blood supply

Function

Clinical significance

History

Additional images

See also

References

External links