177

Neurological Neuroanatomy

Superior colliculus
Aqueduct of midbrain
Periaqueductal gray
Oculomotor nucleus
(CN III)

Red nucleus
Substantia nigra

Cerebral peduncle

FIGURE 65: Brainstem Histology Midbrain (upper photograph)

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

179

Neurological Neuroanatomy

Aqueduct of midbrain
Superior colliculus

Periaqueductal gray
Reticular formation

Brachium of the
inferior colliculus

MLF
Red nucleus

Anterolateral system
Medial lemniscus

Substantia nigra
Parieto-, temporo- and
occipito-pontine fibers

Edinger-Westphal
nucleus

Cortico-spinal tract
Oculomotor
nucleus

Fronto-pontine fibers

Oculomotor nerve (CN III)

FIGURE 65A: Brainstem Histology Upper Midbrain

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Brachium of the
inferior colliculus

Aqueduct of midbrain

Inferior colliculus

Periaqueductal gray

Lateral lemniscus

Reticular formation

Mesencephalic
nucleus of CN V

MLF

Anterolateral system

Decussation of
the superior
cerebellar peduncles

Medial lemniscus

Substantia nigra

Trochlear nucleus

Parieto-, temporo- and

occipito-pontine fibers

Interpeduncular
nucleus

Cortico-spinal tract
Fronto-pontine fibers

FIGURE 65B: Brainstem Histology Lower Midbrain

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Superior
medullary velum
4th ventricle

Ch

Ch

Superior
cerebellar
peduncle
Locus ceruleus

Medial lemniscus
Pontine nuclei
Middle cerebellar
peduncle
Ponto-cerebellar
fibers
Vestibulocochlear
nerve (CN VIII)

Cortico-spinal
fibers
Ch = Cerebellar hemisphere

FIGURE 66: Brainstem Histology Pons (upper photograph)

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

185

Neurological Neuroanatomy

Lingula of cerebellum

Decussation of CN IV

4th ventricle

Mesencephalic
nucleus of CN V

Locus ceruleus

Lateral lemniscus
Anterolateral system

Superior cerebellar
peduncle

Medial lemniscus

MLF
Reticular formation

Trochlear nerve (CN IV)

Pontine nuclei
Middle cerebellar
peduncle

Cortico-spinal tract

Spinothalamic tract

Medial lemniscus

FIGURE 66A: Brainstem Histology Upper Pons

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Lingula of
cerebellum
Superior medullary
velum

Superior cerebellar
peduncle

Sensory n. CN V

4th ventricle

Motor n. CN V

MLF

Lateral lemniscus

Reticular formation

Anterolateral system
Medial lemniscus

Middle cerebellar
peduncle

Trigeminal
nerve (CN V)

Pontine nuclei

Cortico-spinal fibers

Principal nucleus (CN V)

Motor nucleus (CN V)
Spinothalamic
Medial lemniscus

FIGURE 66B: Brainstem Histology Mid-Pons

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Fastigial n.
Globose n.
Emboliform n.
Dentate n.

Nodulus of cerebellum
Vestibular nn.:
Medial
Superior

4th ventricle

Lateral

Cerebellar peduncles:
Inferior
Middle

Spinal t. CN V
Spinal n. CN V

MLF
Reticular formation

Abducens n.
Anterolateral system
Medial lemniscus

Facial n.
Facial nerve (CN VII)

Trapezoid body

Vestibulocochlear
nerve (CN VIII)

Abducens nerve (CN VI)

Superior olivary complex

Cortico-spinal fibers

Pontine nuclei

Ves3bular nuclei
Spinal tract/nuclei
Facial nuclei

FIGURE 66C: Brainstem Histology Lower Pons

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Dentate nucleus

Vermis of cerebellum
Tonsil of cerebellum
Ch

Ch

Foramen of Magendie
Inferior cerebellar
peduncle
Cerebellar cortex
Medial lemniscus
Inferior olivary nucleus
Cortico-spinal tract
(pyramid)

Ch = Cerebellar hemisphere

FIGURE 67: Brainstem Histology Medulla (mid photograph)

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Dentate n.
Vermis of cerebellum
Choroid plexus

Medial vestibular n.

4th ventricle

Inferior vestibular n.

Inferior cerebellar
peduncle

Dorsal cochlear n.
Ventral cochlear n.

Solitary n.
Solitary t.

Spinal t. CN V
Spinal n. CN V

MLF
Reticular formation

Anterolateral system
Medial lemniscus
Vestibulocochlear
nerve (CN VIII)

Inferior olivary n.

Cortico-spinal fibers

Ves3bular nuclei

solitary nuclei/tract

spinal nuclei/tract

Inferior olivary nuclei

FIGURE 67A: Brainstem Histology Upper Medulla

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

195

Neurological Neuroanatomy

Inferior vestibular n.

Choroid plexus

Accessory cuneate n.

4th ventricle

Dorsal motor n.
Hypoglossal n.

Solitary n.
Solitary t.

Spinal t. CN V
Spinal n. CN V

Inferior cerebellar
peduncle

Vagus nerve
(CN X)

N. ambiguus

Anterolateral system
Medial lemniscus

MLF
Reticular formation
Inferior olivary n.

Cortico-spinal fibers
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

CN VIII

DMX
CN XII

Solitary n./t.
Spinal n./t.

nucleus ambiguus

FIGURE 67B: Brainstem Histology Mid-Medulla

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Gracilis t.

Foramen of Magendie
4th ventricle

Gracilis n.
Cuneatus t.
Cuneatus n.

Area postrema
Accessory cuneate n.

Dorsal motor n.
Hypoglossal n.
Spinal t. CN V

Solitary n.
Solitary t.

Spinal n. CN V

MLF
N. ambiguus

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Reticular formation

Internal arcuate fibers

Anterolateral system
Medial lemniscus

Inferior olivary n.

Cortico-spinal fibers
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Area postrema

Gracile t/n
Cuneate t/n

DMX

Solitary t/n

CN XII

Spinal t/n
Nucleus ambiguus

FIGURE 67C: Brainstem Histology Lower Medulla

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Dorsolateral fasciculus
(of Lissauer)
Posteromarginal n.
Substantia gelatinosa
Proper sensory n.

Dorsal horn

Dorsal n. (of Clarke)

Intermediate gray
Ventral horn

Lateral motor n.
(to distal muscles)
Medial motor n.
(to axial muscles)

Fasciculus gracilis
Fasciculus cuneatus
Dorsolateral fasciculus
(of Lissauer)
Dorsal
spino-cerebellar t.

Lateral
cortico-spinal t.
Rubro-spinal t.
MLF

Ventral
spino-cerebellar t.

Lateral (medullary)
reticulo-spinal t.

Lateral
spino-thalamic t.

Medial (pontine)
reticulo-spinal t.

Anterior
spino-thalamic t.

Lateral vestibulo-spinal t.
Anterior cortico-spinal t.

FIGURE 68: Spinal Cord Nuclei and Tracts

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

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Neurological Neuroanatomy

Dorsal column:
Fasciculus gracilis
Fasciculus cuneatus
Dorsal horn
Intermediate gray
Ventral horn
Ventral white
commissure
Cervical

Ventral median
fissure

Arachnoid
Pia
Dorsal horn
Lateral horn

Intermediate gray
Ventral horn

Subarachnoid
space
Dura

Thoracic
Dorsal roots

Substantia
gelatinosa

Dorsal horn

Central canal

Intermediate gray
Ventral horn

Ventral roots
Lumbar

FIGURE 69: Spinal Cord Histology Cross-Sections

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC