Spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve
Updates to Article Attributes
The spinal 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 mesencephalic nucleus 1-2.
Gross anatomy
The spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve is a paired structure and is an inferior continuation of the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve within the caudal pons. It extends inferiorly through the medulla to the level of the upper cervical cord (approximately C2 to C3 levels) where it becomes continuous with the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The spinal nucleus lies ventral to the vestibular and cochlear nuclei and medial to the inferior cerebellar peduncles.
Innervation
The spinal nucleus receives afferent impulses from the unilateral face which convey information about pain, temperature and crude touch.
The spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve also receives sensory afferent impulses from the glossopharyngeal nerve (from the pharynx, soft palate and tympanic membrane) and the vagus nerve (from the meninges, external auditory canal and the external ear).
-<p>The <strong>spinal 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/mesencephalic-nucleus">mesencephalic nucleus </a><sup>1-2</sup>. <sup> </sup></p><h5>Gross anatomy</h5><p>The spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve is a paired structure and is an inferior continuation of the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve within the caudal <a title="Pons" href="/articles/pons">pons</a>. It extends inferiorly through the <a title="Medulla oblongata" href="/articles/medulla-oblongata">medulla</a> to the level of the upper cervical cord (approximately C2 to C3 levels) where it becomes continuous with the <a title="Dorsal horn" href="/articles/dorsal-horn">dorsal horn</a> of the spinal cord. The spinal nucleus lies ventral to the <a title="vestibular nucleus" href="/articles/vestibular-nucleus">vestibular</a> and <a title="cochlear nucleus" href="/articles/cochlear-nucleus">cochlear nuclei</a> and medial to the <a title="Inferior cerebellar peduncles" href="/articles/inferior-cerebellar-peduncle-1">inferior cerebellar peduncles</a>.</p><h5>Innervation</h5><p>The spinal nucleus receives afferent impulses from the unilateral face which convey information about pain, temperature and crude touch.</p><p>The spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve also receives sensory afferent impulses from the <a href="/articles/glossopharyngeal-nerve">glossopharyngeal nerve</a> (from the <a title="Pharynx" href="/articles/pharynx">pharynx</a>, <a title="Soft palate" href="/articles/soft-palate">soft palate</a> and <a title="Tympanic membrane" href="/articles/tympanic-membrane">tympanic membrane</a>) and the <a href="/articles/vagus-nerve">vagus nerve </a>(from the <a title="Meninges" href="/articles/meninges">meninges</a>, <a title="External auditory canal" href="/articles/external-auditory-canal">external auditory canal</a> and the <a title="External ear" href="/articles/external-ear">external ear</a>).</p>- +<p>The <strong>spinal 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/mesencephalic-nucleus">mesencephalic nucleus </a><sup>1-2</sup>. <sup> </sup></p><h5>Gross anatomy</h5><p>The spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve is a paired structure and is an inferior continuation of the main sensory nucleus of the trigeminal nerve within the caudal <a href="/articles/pons">pons</a>. It extends inferiorly through the <a href="/articles/medulla-oblongata">medulla</a> to the level of the upper cervical cord (approximately C2 to C3 levels) where it becomes continuous with the <a href="/articles/dorsal-horn">dorsal horn</a> of the spinal cord. The spinal nucleus lies ventral to the <a href="/articles/vestibular-nucleus">vestibular</a> and <a href="/articles/cochlear-nucleus">cochlear nuclei</a> and medial to the <a href="/articles/inferior-cerebellar-peduncle-1">inferior cerebellar peduncles</a>.</p><h5>Innervation</h5><p>The spinal nucleus receives afferent impulses from the unilateral face which convey information about pain, temperature and crude touch.</p><p>The spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve also receives sensory afferent impulses from the <a href="/articles/glossopharyngeal-nerve">glossopharyngeal nerve</a> (from the <a href="/articles/pharynx">pharynx</a>, <a href="/articles/soft-palate">soft palate</a> and <a href="/articles/tympanic-membrane">tympanic membrane</a>) and the <a href="/articles/vagus-nerve">vagus nerve </a>(from the <a href="/articles/meninges">meninges</a>, <a href="/articles/external-auditory-canal">external auditory canal</a> and the <a href="/articles/external-ear">external ear</a>).</p>
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