Brain: Pontine tegmentum
Brainstem -- tegmentum not labeled, but is visible near center
Latin	tegmentum pontis
NeuroNames	hier-548
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_923

The pontine tegmentum is a part of the pons of the brain involved in the initiation of REM sleep. It includes the pedunculopontine nucleus and the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, among others, and is located near the raphe nucleus and the locus ceruleus.

The trapezoid body is part of the pontine tegmentum.

[edit] Function

In animal studies, lesions of the pontine tegmentum greatly reduce or even eliminate REM sleep. Injection of a cholinergic agonist (e.g. carbachol), into the pontine tegmentum produces a state of REM sleep in cats.

PET studies seem to indicate that there is a correlation between blood flow in the pontine tegmentum, REM sleep, and dreaming  .

Pontine waves (P-waves, or ponto-geniculate-occipital waves) are brain waves generated in the pontine tegmentum. They can be observed in mammals, precede the onset of REM sleep, and continue throughout its course. After periods of memory training, P-wave density increases during subsequent sleep periods in rats. This may be an indication of a link between sleep and learning.

[edit] See also

• Tegmental pontine reticular nucleus

[edit] External links

• Atlas of anatomy at UMich n2a3p2
• http://pathcuric1.swmed.edu/PathDemo/cns1/cns1140.htm
• http://isc.temple.edu/neuroanatomy/lab/atlas/panfc/
• http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/med532/pons.htm

v • d • e Human brain, rhombencephalon, metencephalon: pons (TA A14.1.05.101-604, GA 9.785) Dorsal/ (tegmentum) Surface Cerebellopontine angle · Superior medullary velum · Sulcus limitans · Medial eminence · Facial colliculus White: Sensory/ascending Trapezoid body/VIII · Trigeminal lemniscus (Dorsal trigeminal tract, Ventral trigeminal tract) · Medial lemniscus · Lateral lemniscus MLF, III, IV and VI: Vestibulo-oculomotor fibers Anterior trigeminothalamic tract · Central tegmental tract White: Motor/descending ICP (Vestibulocerebellar tract) MLF, III, IV and VI: Vestibulospinal tract (Medial vestibulospinal tract, Lateral vestibulospinal tract) Grey: Cranial nuclei afferent: GSA: Principal V/Spinal V · VIII-c (Dorsal, Anterior)/VIII-v (Superior) efferent: SVE: Motor V  · VII · GSE: VI · GVE: VII: Superior salivary nucleus Other grey Apneustic center · Pneumotaxic center (Medial parabrachial nucleus) · Lateral parabrachial nucleus · Superior olivary nucleus · Caerulean nucleus Ventral/ (base) Grey Pontine nuclei White: Motor/descending Corticospinal tract · Corticobulbar tract · Corticopontine fibers MCP (Pontocerebellar fibers) Surface Basilar sulcus Other grey: Raphe/ reticular Reticular formation (Caudal, Oral, Tegmental, Paramedian) · Raphe nuclei (Median)