Nuclei

NUCLEI (Latin yadrá), in the nervous system—clusters of cellular elements united by a common function. Nuclei are found throughout the central nervous system, and they are especially numerous in the brainstem (see table, col. 631); they belong to the cerebrospinal and autonomic nervous systems. The size of the nuclei varies. Some of them are clearly demarcated from other structures; others transition into adjacent nuclei without sharp boundaries, and the boundary can only be determined by the shape of the cells: motor nuclei have large multipolar cells, the cells of sensory nuclei are significantly smaller; the cells of autonomic nuclei mostly have a spindle-shaped form, and the presence of pigment can be noted in them. Table of NucleiNucleusLocalizationSignificanceSee articlesAlae cinereaeSee articles Alae cinereae, Dorsalis n. vagiAla cinerea, Vagus nervusAmbiguusIn the medulla oblongata, in the region of the lateral columnMotor nucleus of the vagus nerveVagus nervus, Ambiguus nucleus, Medulla oblongataAmygdalae (tonsils)In the temporal lobe, in the uncus gyri hippocampiOne of the subcortical nucleiBasal ganglia, Extrapyramidal systemAngularis, or vestibularis superior (Bechterew's nucleus)In the pons Varolii, at the outer edge of the IV ventricleVestibular nucleusVestibularis nervus, Vestibular system, Pons VaroliiAnsae peduncularis MeynertiIn the diencephalon, in the regio subthalamicaRelated to the olfactory systemRegio subthalamicaArcuatus, or arciformis, or praepyramidalis (arcuate nucleus) (see also Semilunaris)In the medulla oblongata, on the anterior surface of the pyramidsGives fibers to the corpus restiformeMedulla oblongataArciformisSee ArcuatusBechterew'sSee AngularisCampi ForeliIn the diencephalon, in the regio subthalamicaRegio subthalamicaCaudatus (caudate nucleus)In the cerebral hemisphere, on the floor of the lateral ventricleBelongs to the corpus striatumBasal ganglia, Extrapyramidal systemCentralis inferior (Roller's central nucleus)In the medulla oblongataBelongs to the nuclei of the substantia reticularis alba. Gives off arcuate fibers (to the cerebellum?)Medulla oblongataCentralis Perlia (Perlia's median nucleus)In the tegmentum of the midbrain, between both main (lateral) nuclei of the oculomotor nerveGives origin to the oculomotor nerveOculomotoris nervusCentralis superiorIn the pons Varolii, anterior to the fasciculus longitudinalis posteriorBelongs to the nuclei of the substantia reticularisPons VaroliiColumnae Clarkii, or Stillingi, or dorsalisIn the spinal cord, at the base of the posterior hornGives origin to Flechsig's cerebellar tractSpinal cordCorporis geniculati ext. et int.In the diencephalon, behind the thalamus opticusTermination points of visual and auditory fibersCorpora geniculataCorporis mamillarisIn the diencephalon, under the III ventricleTermination point of the fibers of the fornixOlfactionCorporis quadrigemini super. (or anterior) et inferior (or poster.)In the midbrain, above the aqueduct of SylviusTermination points of visual and auditory reflex fibersCorpora quadrigeminaCorporis trapezoideiIn the pons Varolii, on the boundary between the base and the tegmentumRelated to auditory fibersPons VaroliiDarkshevich's, or nucleus of the posterior commissureIn the diencephalon, on the sides of the entrance to the aqueduct of SylviusOrigin of the fasciculus longitudinalis posteriorFasciculus longitudinalis posterior, Darkshevich's nucleusDeiters'sIn the upper part of the medulla oblongata along the floor of the IV ventricle, medial to the corpus restiformeBelongs to the vestibular systemVestibularis nervus, Vestibular systemDentatus (dentate nucleus)In the cerebellum, in the white matter of its hemisphereGives origin to the superior cerebellar peduncleCerebellumDorsalis n. vagi (posterior nucleus of the vagus nerve, or alae cinereae)In the medulla oblongata, on the floor of the IV ventricleAutonomic nucleus of the vagus nerveVagus nervusDorsalis n. cochlearis, or tuberculum acusticum (acoustic tubercle)In the medulla oblongata, posterior and lateral to the corpus restiformeTermination point of the cochlear nerveHearing, Acusticus nervusEdinger-Westphal'sIn the tegmentum of the midbrain, under the aqueduct of SylviusParasympathetic oculomotor nucleusAutonomic nervous system, Oculomotorius nervus, Westphal-Edinger nucleusEmboliformis, or embolus (emboliform nucleus)In the cerebellum, in the white matter of its hemisphereGives origin to part of the fibers of the superior cerebellar peduncleCerebellumEminentiae medialisSee Nucl. funiculi teretisFastigii (roof nucleus)In the cerebellum, in the vermis above the IV ventricleOrigin of efferent fibers of the vermis; connection with the vestibular systemCerebellumFuniculi cuneati, or Burdachi int. et ext. (nucleus of the posterior column, or Burdach's bundle)In the posterior column of the medulla oblongataTermination points of the fibers of the posterior column and origin of the medial lemniscusSpinal cord, Burdach's bundleFuniculi gracilis, or Golli (nucleus of the posterior column, or Goll's bundle)Same placeSameSpinal cord, Goll's bundleFuniculi teretis, or eminentiae medialis (nucleus of the round bundle)In the medulla oblongata, on the floor of the IV ventricleRelated to the striae medullares, or acusticaeMedulla oblongataGlobulus (globose nucleus)In the vermis of the cerebellum, next to the nuc. fastigiiGives origin to efferent fibers of the vermisCerebellumHabenulae, or ganglion habenulae (habenular nucleus)In the diencephalon, at the posterior end of the thalamus opticusTermination point of the stria medullaris, related to the olfactory systemOlfaction, HabenulaHypothalamicus, or corpus Luysi, or corpus subthalamicumIn the diencephalon, in the regio subthalamicaRelated to the autonomic and extrapyramidal systemsCorpus Luysi, Extrapyramidal systemIntercalatus MaloneIn the diencephalon, lateral to the corpus mamillareAutonomic nucleusRegio subthalamicaIntercalatus StaderiniIn the medulla oblongata, on the floor of the IV ventricle, between the nuclei of nerves X and XIISignificance not yet clarified (center of associative fibers)Medulla oblongataIntracommissuralis (intracommissural nucleus)In the diencephalon, between the fibers of the posterior commissureGives fibers to the commissura posteriorThalamus opticusInterfomicatusIn the diencephalon, in the wall of the III ventricle, between the bundles of the columnae fornicisAutonomic nucleusRegio subthalamicaInterstitial (interstitial nucleus)In the anterior part of the midbrain, between the red nucleus and the fasciculus longitudinalis posteriorOrigin of the fasciculus longitudinalis posterior (according to Cajal)Fasciculus longitudinalis posteriorIntratrigeminalis (intratrigeminal nucleus) (Kohnstamm)In the midbrain, in the lateral walls of the aqueduct of SylviusOrigin of the fasciculus praedorsalisFasciculiLateralis anterior, or funiculi later. ant. (anterior nucleus of the lateral column)In the lateral columns of the medulla oblongata, posterior to the inferior oliveGives origin to fibers forming part of the corpus restiformeCerebellumLateralis posterior, or funiculi lat. poster. (posterior nucleus)Posterior to the previous one, at the anterior edge of the spinal root of the trigeminal nerveSameSameLemnisci lateralis (nucleus of the lateral lemniscus)In the isthmus cerebri, among the fibers of the lateral lemniscusAuditory fibers of the lateral lemniscus partially synapse hereLemniscus lateralisLenticularis (lenticular nucleus)In the cerebral hemisphere, lateral to the capsula internaOne of the main nuclei of the extrapyramidal systemBasal ganglia, Extrapyramidal systemLoci caeruleiIn the upper part of the pons VaroliiPresumed autonomic nucleus of the trigeminal nervePons Varolii, Trigeminus nervusMamillaris accessoriusIn the diencephalon, between the corpus mamillare and the cerebral peduncleRelated to olfactionOlfactionMamillo-infundibularis (Malone)In the diencephalon, in the wall of the infundibulumOne of the centers of the autonomic nervous systemAutonomic nervous system, Regio subthalamicaMotorius tegmentiGeneral name for the nucleus ruber, nucleus Deiters's, and nucleus reticularisNervi abducentis (nucleus of the abducens nerve)In the pons Varolii, in its lower parts, on the floor of the IV ventricleGives origin to the abducens nerveAbducens nervus, Pons VaroliiNervi accessorii, or n. Willisii (nucleus of the accessory nerve), pars bulbarisIn the lower part of the medulla oblongata, posterior to the central canalForms part of the nuclei of the vagus nerveAccessorius nervus Willisii, Medulla oblongataNervi accessorii, pars spinalisIn the spinal cord, in the anterior horns of the upper cervical segmentsOrigin of the spinal accessory nerveAccessorius nervus Willisii, Spinal cordNervi facialis (nucleus of the facial nerve)In the lower part of the pons Varolii, in the region of the lateral columnGives origin to the facial nerveFacialis nervus, Pons Varolii

NucleusLocalizationSignificanceSee articlesNervi hypoglossi (nucleus of the hypoglossal nerve)In the medulla oblongata, on the floor of the IV ventricleGives rise to the hypoglossal nerveHypoglossus nervusNervi glosso-pharyngei (nucleus of the glossopharyngeal nerve, anterior part of the nuclei ambigui)In the medulla oblongataGives rise to the glossopharyngeal nerveGlosso-pharyngeus nervusNervi oculomotorii (nucleus of the oculomotor nerve)In the tegmentum of the midbrain, under the aquaeductus SylviiGives rise to the oculomotor nerveOculomotorius nervusNervi trigemini nuclei (nuclei of the trigeminal nerve, motor and sensory)In the pons Varolii, in the lateral region of its middle levelsOrigin of the motor part and site of termination of the sensory part of the trigeminal nerveTrigeminus nervus, Pons VaroliiNervi trochlearis (nucleus of the trochlear nerve)In the tegmentum of the lower section of the midbrainGives rise to the trochlear nerveTrochlearis nervusNervi vagi (nuclei) (nuclei of the vagus nerve)See Ambiguus and Dorsalis vagiOlivaris accessorius internus et externusIn the medulla oblongata, near the oliveAccessory nuclei of the inferior oliveMedulla oblongataOlivaris inferior (nucleus of the inferior olive)In the medulla oblongata, behind the pyramidIs in connection with the cerebellum via the corpus restiformeIdemOlivaris superior (nucleus of the superior olive)In the pons VaroliiBelongs to the auditory systemPons Varolii, HearingPallido-infundibularisIn the diencephalon, in the wall of the infundibulum, between the tractus opticus and the nucleus mammillo-infundibularisOne of the vegetative nucleiVegetative nervous system, Regio subthalamicaParacerebellares (nuclei) (Horsley), or nucleus motorius tegmenti (Edinger)General name for the nucleus ruber, nucleus Deiters, nucleus reticularisParamedianus (Malone)In the diencephalon, in the wall of the ventricle, above the commissura intermediaVegetative nucleusVegetative nervous system, Regio subthalamicaParaventricularis (Malone)In the diencephalon, in the wall of the infundibulumVegetative nucleusVegetative nervous system, Regio subthalamicaPeriventricularisCorresponds to the nucleus mammillo-infundibularis of Malone and LewyPontis (nuclei) (nuclei of the pons)In the base of the pons VaroliiGive rise to the pedunculus cerebelli ad pontemPons VaroliiRadicis descendentis nervi trigemini (nucleus of the spinal root of the V pair)In the pons Varolii and in the medulla oblongataSite of termination of the spinal root of the trigeminal nerveTrigeminus nervus, Medulla oblongataRadicis descendentis nervi vestibularis (Roller) (nucleus of the descending root of the VIII pair)In the medulla oblongataSite of termination of the descending root of the vestibular nerveMedulla oblongata

NUCLEI

NucleusLocalizationSignificanceSee articlesRaphes (nuclei) (nuclei of the raphe)In the medulla oblongata and in the pons Varolii along the midlineApparently give rise to fibers to the cerebellumMedulla oblongataReticularis lateralisIn the medulla oblongata, in the substantia reticularisBelongs to the nuclei of the substantia reticularisMedulla oblongataReticularis tegmenti, nucleus oculo-pontinus, or nucleus magnocellularis diffusus (reticular nucleus of the tegmentum)In the pons Varolii, on the border between the base and the tegmentumHave connections with the spinal cord, cerebellum, and with the nucleus of the III nervePons VaroliiReuniens (Malone)In the diencephalon, in the wall of the III ventricle, near the commissura intermediaVegetative nucleusVegetative nervous system, Regio subthalamicaRuber (red nucleus)In the tegmentum of the cerebral peduncleIs in connection with the cerebellum, cerebrum, extrapyramidal system, and with the spinal cordNucleus ruberSalivatorius inferior (Kohnstamm)In the medulla oblongata, near the oliveGives rise to fibers innervating the parotid gland (according to Kohnstamm)Medulla oblongata, Vegetative nervous systemSalivatorius superiorIn the pons Varolii, behind the nucleus of the facial nerveGives rise to fibers innervating the submaxillary glandPons Varolii, Vegetative nervous systemSemilunaris (Flechsig), or arcuatus (semilunar nucleus)In the diencephalon, in the lower sections of the thalami opticiThalamus opticusSolitarius, or terminalis, or substantia gelatinosa vagi et glosso-pharyngei (nucleus of the solitary tract)In the medulla oblongata, near the fasciculus solitariusThe descending root of the glossopharyngeal nerve ends in itMedulla oblongata, TasteStilling'sSee nucleus columnae ClarkeSupraopticus, or ganglion opticum basale (Meynert)In the diencephalon, in the regio subthalamica, above the tractus opticusVegetative nucleusVegetative nervous system, Regio subthalamicaSympathicus lateralis inferiorIn the lateral horn of the gray matter of the spinal cord from the II sacral segment to the coccygealGives rise to parasympathetic fibers for the pelvic organsVegetative nervous system, Spinal cordSympathicus lateralis superiorIn the lateral horn of the spinal cord from the VIII cervical segment to the IV lumbarGives rise to sympathetic fibersVegetative nervous systemSympathicus medialis inferior, or lumbo-sacralisIn the lateral horn of the spinal cord from the IV lumbar segment to the V sacralGives rise to parasympathetic fibers for the visceraVegetative nervous system, Spinal cordThalami optici (nuclei) anterior, medialis, lateralis, ventralis, medianus (centre median)Thalamus opticusTegmenti (nuclei) Gudden'sIn the pons Varolii, in the tegmentumSite of termination of the tractus mammillo-tegmentalisRegio subthalamica, Gudden's commissure, NucleiTerminalis fasciculi solitariiSee SolitariusTriangularis, or vestibularis dorsalis (posterior nucleus of the auditory nerve)In the upper part of the medulla oblongata, on the floor of the IV ventricleSite of termination of the vestibular nerveMedulla oblongata, Vestibularis nervus, Vestibular systemTuberis (nuclei)In the diencephalon, in the tuber cinereumVegetative nucleiRegio subthalamicaVentralis nervi cochleae [anterior (or accessory) nucleus of the auditory nerve]On the border of the medulla oblongata and the pons Varolii, anterior to the corpus restiformeSite of termination of the cochlear nerveAcusticus nervus, Pons VaroliiVestibularis dorsalisSee TriangularisVestibularis superiorSee AngularisWestphal-EdingerSee Edinger-Westphal