Trigeminal nerve nuclei

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" or "principle 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.

See also

• Trigeminal nerve
• Photic sneeze reflex

Additional images

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  Dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.

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  Deep dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.

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

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

External links

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