Mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve
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- updated 15 Oct 2022:
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The mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve is one of three major nuclei that make up the trigeminal sensory nerve nuclear complex along with the main sensory nucleus and the spinal nucleus1-2.
Gross anatomy
The mesencephalic nucleus is a paired structure located at the mesopontine junction which projects cephalad through the midbrain. It is situated along the anterolateral aspect of the periaqueductal grey matter and lies ventral to the inferior colliculi at the level of the midbrain.
It lies superior to the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve with which it is continuous within the pons.
The mesencephalic nucleus is the only nuclei in the central nervous system to contain the cell bodies of first order sensory neurones (which are usually contained within ganglia), making it anatomically unique 3.
Innervation
The mesencephalic nucleus contains first-order afferent cells that receive facial proprioceptive impulses from the hard palate, teeth and temporomandibular joint.
A sickle-shaped mesencephalic tract descends to the trigeminal nerve motor nucleus and conveys impulses that control mastication and bite force and also facilitate monosynaptic jaw jerk reflexes.
-<p>The <strong>mesencephalic nucleus</strong> of the <a href="/articles/trigeminal-nerve">trigeminal nerve </a>is one of three major nuclei that make up the trigeminal sensory nerve nuclear complex along with the <a href="/articles/main-sensory-nucleus-of-the-trigeminal-nerve">main sensory nucleus</a> and the <a href="/articles/spinal-nucleus-of-the-trigeminal-nerve">spinal nucleus</a><sup><a href="/articles/spinal-nucleus-of-the-trigeminal-nerve"> </a>1-2</sup>.</p><h5>Gross anatomy</h5><p>The mesencephalic nucleus is a paired structure located at the mesopontine junction which projects cephalad through the <a href="/articles/midbrain">midbrain</a>. It is situated along the anterolateral aspect of the <a href="/articles/periaqueductal-grey-matter-1">periaqueductal grey matter</a> and lies ventral to the <a href="/articles/corpora-quadrigemina">inferior colliculi</a> at the level of the midbrain.</p><p>It lies superior to the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve with which it is continuous within the <a href="/articles/pons">pons</a>.</p><h5>Innervation</h5><p>The mesencephalic nucleus contains first-order afferent cells that receive facial proprioceptive impulses from the <a href="/articles/hard-palate">hard palate</a>, <a href="/articles/teeth">teeth</a> and <a href="/articles/temporomandibular-joint-1">temporomandibular joint</a>.</p><p>A sickle-shaped mesencephalic tract descends to the trigeminal nerve <a href="/articles/motor-nucleus-of-the-trigeminal-nerve">motor nucleus</a> and conveys impulses that control mastication and bite force and also facilitate monosynaptic jaw jerk reflexes.</p>- +<p>The <strong>mesencephalic nucleus</strong> of the <a href="/articles/trigeminal-nerve">trigeminal nerve </a>is one of three major nuclei that make up the trigeminal sensory nerve nuclear complex along with the <a href="/articles/main-sensory-nucleus-of-the-trigeminal-nerve">main sensory nucleus</a> and the <a href="/articles/spinal-nucleus-of-the-trigeminal-nerve">spinal nucleus<sup> </sup></a><sup>1-2</sup>.</p><h5>Gross anatomy</h5><p>The mesencephalic nucleus is a paired structure located at the mesopontine junction which projects cephalad through the <a href="/articles/midbrain">midbrain</a>. It is situated along the anterolateral aspect of the <a href="/articles/periaqueductal-grey-matter-1">periaqueductal grey matter</a> and lies ventral to the <a href="/articles/corpora-quadrigemina">inferior colliculi</a> at the level of the midbrain.</p><p>It lies superior to the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve with which it is continuous within the <a href="/articles/pons">pons</a>.</p><p>The mesencephalic nucleus is the only nuclei in the <a href="/articles/central-nervous-system-1" title="Central nervous system (CNS)">central nervous system </a>to contain the cell bodies of first order sensory neurones (which are usually contained within <a href="/articles/ganglion" title="Ganglion">ganglia</a>), making it anatomically unique <sup>3</sup>. </p><h5>Innervation</h5><p>The mesencephalic nucleus contains first-order afferent cells that receive facial proprioceptive impulses from the <a href="/articles/hard-palate">hard palate</a>, <a href="/articles/teeth">teeth</a> and <a href="/articles/temporomandibular-joint-1">temporomandibular joint</a>.</p><p>A sickle-shaped mesencephalic tract descends to the trigeminal nerve <a href="/articles/motor-nucleus-of-the-trigeminal-nerve">motor nucleus</a> and conveys impulses that control mastication and bite force and also facilitate monosynaptic jaw jerk reflexes.</p>
References changed:
- 1. Bradnam L & Barry C. The Role of the Trigeminal Sensory Nuclear Complex in the Pathophysiology of Craniocervical Dystonia. J Neurosci. 2013;33(47):18358-67. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.3544-13.2013">doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3544-13.2013</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24259561">Pubmed</a>
- 2. Price S & Daly D. Neuroanatomy, Trigeminal Nucleus. 2023. - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30969645">Pubmed</a>
- 3. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2020) ISBN: 9780702077050 - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9780702077050">Google Books</a>
- 1. Lynley Bradnam, Christine Barry. The Role of the Trigeminal Sensory Nuclear Complex in the Pathophysiology of Craniocervical Dystonia. (2013) Journal of Neuroscience. 33 (47): 18358. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3544-13.2013">doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3544-13.2013</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24259561">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
- 2. Shmuel Price, Daniel T. Daly. Neuroanatomy, Nucleus Trigeminal. (2019) Pubmed
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