Brain: Pyramid (brainstem)
Medulla oblongata and pons. Anterior surface. (Pyramid visible at center.)
Section of the medulla oblongata at about the middle of the olive. (Pyramid visible at bottom center.)
Latin	pyramis medullae oblongatae
Gray's	subject #187 768
NeuroNames	hier-702

The anterior or ventral portion of the medulla oblongata is named the pyramid and lies between the anterior median fissure and the antero-lateral sulcus.

Its upper end is slightly constricted, and between it and the pons the fibers of the abducent nerve emerge; a little below the pons it becomes enlarged and prominent, and finally tapers into the anterior funiculus of the medulla spinalis, with which, at first sight, it appears to be directly continuous.

[edit] See also

• Corticospinal tract (also known as "pyramidal tract")
• Decussation of the pyramids

[edit] Additional images

The formatio reticularis of the medulla oblongata, shown by a transverse section passing through the middle of the olive.

Dissection showing the projection fibers of the cerebellum.

Human brainstem anterior view

[edit] External links

• pyramid+of+medulla+oblongata at eMedicine Dictionary
• Diagram at csus.edu

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

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v • d • e Human brain: rhombencephalon, myelencephalon: medulla (TA A14.1.04, GA 9.767) Dorsal Surface Posterior median sulcus · Posterolateral sulcus · Area postrema · Vagal trigone · Hypoglossal trigone · Medial eminence Grey: Cranial nuclei afferent: GVA: VII,IX,X: Solitary/tract/Dorsal respiratory group · SVA: Gustatory nucleus · GSA: VIII-v (Lateral, Medial, Inferior) efferent: GSE: XII  · GVE: IX,X,XI: Ambiguus · SVE: X: Dorsal · IX: Inferior salivatory nucleus Grey: other Gracile nucleus · Cuneate nucleus · Accessory cuneate nucleus White: Sensory/ascending Sensory decussation  · Medial lemniscus · Inferior cerebellar peduncle (Juxtarestiform body) · Ascending dorsal longitudinal fasciculus · MLF, III, IV and VI White: Motor/descending Descending dorsal longitudinal fasciculus · MLF, III, IV and VI Ventral White: Motor/descending Motor decussation · Olivocerebellar tract · Rubro-olivary tract Grey matter Ventral respiratory group · Arcuate nucleus of medulla · Inferior olivary nucleus Surface Anterior median fissure · Antero-lateral sulcus · Olive · Pyramid Grey: Raphe/ reticular Reticular formation (Gigantocellular, Parvocellular, Ventral, Lateral, Paramedian) · Raphe nuclei (Obscurus, Magnus, Pallidus)