Brain: Trigeminal nerve nuclei
The cranial nerve nuclei schematically represented; dorsal view. Motor nuclei in red; sensory in blue. (Trigeminal nerve nuclei are at "V".)
Latin	nuclei trigemini
Gray's	subject #187 787
NeuroNames	ancil-1008020136
MeSH	Trigeminal+nuclei
NeuroLex ID	nifext_11

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 mesencephalic nucleus
• The chief sensory nucleus (or "pontine nucleus" or "main sensory nucleus" or "primary nucleus")
• The spinal trigeminal 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 that is medial to the chief sensory nucleus.

[edit] See also

• Trigeminal nerve
• Photic sneeze reflex

[edit] Additional images

Dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.

Deep dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.

Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view.

Primary terminal nuclei of the afferent (sensory) cranial nerves schematically represented; lateral view.

[edit] External links

• Atlas of anatomy at UMich n2a4p5
• Washington University
• 1301938236 at GPnotebook

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)

v • d • e Human brain: mesencephalon (midbrain) (TA A14.1.06, GA 9.800) Tectum (Dorsal) Surface Corpora quadrigemina: Inferior colliculi (Brachium of inferior colliculus), Superior colliculi (Brachium of superior colliculus) Grey matter Pretectal area White: Sensory/ascending Spinotectal tract · Central tegmental tract White: Motor/descending Tectospinal tract Peduncle (Ventral) Peduncle tegmentum White: Sensory/ascending lemnisci (Medial, Lateral) · Ascending MLF (Vestibulo-oculomotor fibers) · Spinothalamic tract · Anterior trigeminothalamic tract · Dentatothalamic tract White: Motor/descending Rubrospinal tract · Rubro-olivary tract · Descending MLF Grey: cranial nuclei GSA (V: Mesencephalic) - GSE (III: Oculomotor, IV: Trochlear) - GVE (III: Edinger-Westphal) Grey: other Periaqueductal gray/Raphe nuclei (Dorsal raphe nucleus) Ventral tegmental area • Pedunculopontine nucleus • Red nucleus riMLF Ventricular system Cerebral aqueduct Peduncle base White: Motor/descending Cerebral crus: Corticospinal tract · Corticobulbar tract · Corticopontine tract/Frontopontine fibers/Temporopontine fibers Grey: Substantia nigra Pars compacta · Pars reticulata Surface Superior cerebellar peduncle (Decussation of superior cerebellar peduncles) · Interpeduncular fossa