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The pons is also called the pons Varolii ("bridge of Varolius"), after the Italian anatomist and surgeon Costanzo Varolio (1543–75). [1] This region of the brainstem includes neural pathways and tracts that conduct signals from the brain down to the cerebellum and medulla, and tracts that carry the sensory signals up into the thalamus .
Pontocerebellar fibers are the sole efferent pathway of the pontine nuclei. The fibers mostly decussate within the pons to pass through the (contralateral) middle cerebellar peduncle to terminate in the contralateral cerebellum as mossy fibers; they form terminal synapses in the cerebellar cortex, but also issue collaterals to the cerebellar nuclei.
The pontine nuclei are located within the basilar pons. Also nearby are the raphe nuclei and the locus coeruleus, nuclei of cranial nerves 9-12, and the dorsal respiratory group, which are located further caudally in the brainstem. The dorsal respiratory group are connected to the pneumotaxic and apneustic centres of the pontine tegmentum.
Cranial nerves are the nerves that emerge directly from the brain (including the brainstem), of which there are conventionally considered twelve pairs. Cranial nerves relay information between the brain and parts of the body, primarily to and from regions of the head and neck , including the special senses of vision , taste , smell , and hearing .
The sensory trigeminal nerve nuclei are the largest of the cranial nerve nuclei, and extend through the whole of the midbrain, pons 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
Ten pairs of cranial nerves come from the brainstem. [5] Other roles include the regulation of the central nervous system and the body's sleep cycle . [ 4 ] It is also of prime importance in the conveyance of motor and sensory pathways from the rest of the brain to the body, and from the body back to the brain. [ 4 ]
The basilar part of pons, also known as basis pontis, or basilar pons, is the ventral part of the pons (ventral pons) in the brainstem; the dorsal part (dorsal pons) is known as the pontine tegmentum. The basilar part of the pons makes up two thirds of the pons. [1] It has a ridged appearance with a shallow groove at the midline.
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) or pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT or PPTg) is a collection of neurons located in the upper pons in the brainstem. [1] [2] It is involved in voluntary movements, [3] arousal, and provides sensory feedback to the cerebral cortex and one of the main components of the ascending reticular activating system.