| phrenic nucleus | A nucleus comprised of motor neurons located in medial areas of the ventral horn of the spinal cord from about C3 to C6; axons of neurons in this nucleus innervate the diaphragm. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| cochlear nucleus | The brainstem nucleus that receives the central input from the cochlear nerve. The cochlear nucleus is located lateral and dorsolateral to the inferior cerebellar peduncles and is functionally divided into dorsal and ventral parts. It is tonotopically organised, performs the first stage of central auditory processing, and projects (directly or indirectly) to higher auditory areas including the superior olivary nuclei, the medial geniculi, the inferior colliculi, and the auditory cortex. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Monakow's nucleus | A cell group lateral to the cuneate nucleus which receives posterior-root fibres corresponding to the proprioceptive innervation of the arm and hand; it projects to the cerebellum by way of the cuneocerebellar tract, and can be considered the upper-extremity equivalent of the thoracic nucleus. Synonym: nucleus cuneatus accessorius, external cuneate nucleus, lateral cuneate nucleus, Monakow's nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| motor nucleus of facial nerve | A group of motor neurons located in the ventrolateral region of the lower pontine tegmentum and innervating the facial muscles, the stapedius muscle in the middle ear, the posterior limb of the musculus digastricus, and the stylohyoid muscle. Synonym: nucleus nervi facialis, facial motor nucleus, motor nucleus of facial nerve, nucleus facialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| motor nucleus of trigeminal nerve | <anatomy, nerve> A group of motor neurons innervating the muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, internal and external pterygoid muscles) and the musculi tensor tympani and tensor veli palatini. The nucleus lies in the upper pontine tegmentum medial to the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminus. Synonym: nucleus motorius nervi trigemini, masticatory nucleus, motor nucleus of trigeminus, nucleus masticatorius. (05 Mar 2000) |
| motor nucleus of trigeminus | <anatomy, nerve> A group of motor neurons innervating the muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, internal and external pterygoid muscles) and the musculi tensor tympani and tensor veli palatini. The nucleus lies in the upper pontine tegmentum medial to the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminus. Synonym: nucleus motorius nervi trigemini, masticatory nucleus, motor nucleus of trigeminus, nucleus masticatorius. (05 Mar 2000) |
| convergence nucleus of Perlia | A small cell group located between the somatic cell columns of the oculomotor nuclei. Since it is placed between the groups of motor neurons innervating, respectively, the left and right medial rectus muscles, the nucleus is considered to possibly represent an integrating mechanism for ocular convergence. Synonym: convergence nucleus of Perlia, Spitzka's nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pontis nervi trigeminalis nucleus | <anatomy, nerve> The term commonly used to designate the nucleus pontis nervi trigeminalis; located in pons lateral to the motor trigeminal nucleus; receives primary sensory (touch and pressure) input via the trigeminal nerve, projects to ventral posteromedial nucleus of thalamus. Synonym: nucleus sensorius principalis nervi trigemini, nucleus sensorius superior nervi trigemini, principal sensory nucleus of the trigeminus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| habenular nucleus | The gray matter of the habenula, composed of a small-celled medial and a larger-celled lateral habenular nucleus; both nuclei receive fibres from basal forebrain regions (septum, basal nucleus, lateral preoptic nucleus); the lateral habenular nucleus receives an additional projection from the medial segment of the globus pallidus. Both nuclei project by way of the retroflex fasciculus to the interpeduncular nucleus and a medial zone of the midbrain tegmentum. Synonym: nucleus habenulae, ganglion habenulae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior hypothalamic nucleus | A large, periventricular hypothalamic nucleus located dorsal to the mamillary body, continuous with the central gray substance of the mesencephalon. Synonym: nucleus posterior hypothalami. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior medial nucleus of thalamus | Medial part of the ventrobasal nuclear complex. See: ventral posterior nucleus of thalamus. Synonym: nucleus ventralis posteromedialis thalami. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior periventricular nucleus | A nucleus located in the middle hypothalamus in the most ventral part of the third ventricle near the entrance of the infundibular recess. Its small cells are in close contact with the ependyma. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cuneate nucleus | The larger Burdach's nucleus; one of the three nuclei of the posterior column of the spinal cord; located near the dorsal surface of the medulla oblongata at and below the level of the obex, the nucleus receives posterior root fibres corresponding to the sensory innervation of the arm and hand of the same side; together with its medial companion, the gracile nucleus, it is the major source of origin of the medial lemniscus. Synonym: nucleus cuneatus, Burdach's nucleus, nucleus funiculi cuneati, nucleus of cuneate fasciculus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| prerubral nucleus | The gray matter of field H2. See: fields of Forel. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pretectal nucleus | Group of cells, constituting several subnuclei, located rostral to the superior colliculus in the "pretectal" area; receive input from retinal ganglion cells (via the optic tract) and project bilaterally to the Edinger-Westphal nucleus; relay centre for pupillary light reflex pathway. (05 Mar 2000) |