The
sensory trigeminal nerve nuclei are the largest of the
cranial nerve nuclei, and extend through the whole of the
midbrain
The midbrain or mesencephalon is the uppermost portion of the brainstem connecting the diencephalon and cerebrum with the pons. It consists of the cerebral peduncles, tegmentum, and tectum.
It is functionally associated with vision, hearing, mo ...
,
pons
The pons (from Latin , "bridge") is part of the brainstem that in humans and other mammals, 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 ...
and
medulla, and into the upper cervical spinal cord.
The nucleus is divided into three parts, from rostral to caudal (top to bottom in humans):
* The
mesencephalic nucleus
* The
principal sensory nucleus
* The
spinal trigeminal nucleus
The spinal trigeminal nucleus is a nucleus in the medulla that receives information about deep/crude touch, pain, and temperature from the ipsilateral face. In addition to the trigeminal nerve (CN V), the facial (CN VII), glossopharyngeal (CN ...
::The spinal trigeminal nucleus is further subdivided into three parts, from rostral to caudal:
:* Pars oralis (from the Pons to the Hypoglossal nucleus)
:* Pars interpolaris (from the Hypoglossal nucleus to the
obex
The obex () is the point in the human brain at which the fourth ventricle narrows to become the central canal of the spinal cord. Cerebrospinal fluid can flow from the fourth ventricle into the obex. In anatomical studies, the obex has been fo ...
)
:* Pars caudalis (from the obex to C2)
There is also a distinct
trigeminal motor nucleus that is medial to the principal sensory nucleus.
See also
*
Photic sneeze reflex
*
Trigeminal nerve
In neuroanatomy, the trigeminal nerve (literal translation, lit. ''triplet'' nerve), also known as the fifth cranial nerve, cranial nerve V, or simply CN V, is a cranial nerve responsible for Sense, sensation in the face and motor functions ...
Additional images
File:Gray683.png, Dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.
File:Gray684.png, Deep dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.
File:Gray697.png, Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view.
File:Gray698.png, Primary terminal nuclei of the afferent (sensory) cranial nerves schematically represented; lateral view.
External links
*
Washington University
{{Mesencephalon
Cranial nerve nuclei
Trigeminal nerve