Pons
1- Anatomy of the pons.
2- Levels of the pons: upper, middle & lower levels.
3- Clinical hint.
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II- Pons
• It consists of 2 parts:
1- Basis pontis:
Expanded ventral part.
Connected to cerebellum by middle
cerebellar peduncle.
2- Pontine tegmentum: dorsally.
• The fourth ventricle: is located
posteriorly.
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II- Pons
1- Basis pontis
• It consists of 4 fixed structures:
A- Descending longitudinal fibers:
Descend from cerebral peduncles of
midbrain:
Corticobulbar fibers: to motor
nuclei cranial nerves.
Corticopontine fibers: to pontine
nuclei. Descending
long.fibers
Corticospinal fibers: descend to the
medulla as pyramids, then to spinal Pontine
cord. nuclei
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II- Pons
1- Basis pontis
B- Pontine nuclei:
MCP
Receive nerve fibers from corticopontine
fibers in midbrain.
Send efferent fibers to the cerebellum
forming pontocerebellar fibers.
Transverse
C- Transverse pontine fibers: pontine F
Appear as characteristic transverse ridges.
Represent the axons of the pontine nuclei Pontine N
that cross the midline to enter middle
cerebellar peduncle as pontocerebellar
fibers.
D- Middle cerebellar peduncles:
Contains pontocerebellar fibers.
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II- Pons
2- Pontine tegmentum
• It is the dorsal part of the pons. It is
bounded by:
Inferiorly: the upward continuation of
the medulla
Superiorly: it is continuous with the
tegmentum of the midbrain.
Posteriorly: fourth ventricle.
Laterally: in the lower part(ICP)& upper
part(SCP).
• It contains the tracts, leminisci,
cerebellar peduncles& cranial nerve
nuclei.
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Levels of Pons
1- Lower level of pons. MCP
2- Middle level of pons.
3- Upper level of pons. MLB
• In the 3 levels: Med.Tecto-
spinal T
Middle cerebellar peduncles are present. Med.
Midline: MLB, Medial tectospinal tract. leminiscus
Medial leminiscus: appears transversely
next to midline.
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A- Lower Pons (Facial colliculus)
1- Outline: resembles open medulla. Cochlear N
Vestibular N ICP
2- Tracts& nuclei: 4th ventricle
A- ICP: lateral to fourth ventricle. Sup.Olivary N
B- Superior olivary nucleus.
C- Cranial nerve nuclei (4): Lat.leminiscus
Vestibulocochlear nuclei: Trapezoid
body
vestibular nuclei(superior, lateral&
medial) at the floor of the fourth Vestibulo-
cochlear
ventricle+ cochlear nuclei( dorsal& nerve
ventral)at dorsal and ventral parts
of ICP.
Trapezoid body: formed by decussation of cochlear fibers that arise from 2 cochlear nuclei, cross to opposite
Dr Iman
side. It ascends as lateral leminiscus, end in inferior Nabil
colliculus of midbrain. 9
A- Lower Pons (Facial colliculus)
Facial nuclei: motor, superior salivary&
solitary.
Abducent nucleus. Spinal N&T
Abducent N
Spinal nucleus: of trigeminal& its tract.
Facial N
Vestibulo- Facial nerve
cochlear
nerve
Abducent nerve
The facial nerve loop around the abducent nucleus at the floor of fourth ventricle, forming facial colliculous,
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then emerges ventrolaterally
B- Middle Pons (Trigeminal level)
1- Outline:
Trigeminal N
The 4th ventricle acquires a roof. SCP
4th ventricle
Bulging of MCP. Vent.spino-
2- Tracts& nuclei: Cerebellar T
A- SCP: appears lateral to fourth ventricle. Spinal
leminiscus
B- Ventral spinocerebellar tract: ends into SCP.
MCP
C- Spinal leminiscus: formed by lateral&
ventral spinothalamic tracts.
D- Cranial nerve nuclei:
Nuclei of trigeminal nerve (motor nucleus,
main sensory, mesencephalic& tract, spinal Trigeminal
nucleus&tract). nerve
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C- Upper Pons (Leminisci level)
1- Outline: 4th ventricle
Basis pontis enlarges at the expense of small tegmentum. SCP
Mesencephalic
4th ventricle: smaller.
N&T
Lat.leminiscus
2- Tracts& nuclei:
A-SCP: lateral to 4th ventricle. Spinal
leminiscus
B- 4 leminisci:
Medial leminiscus. Trigeminal
Trigeminal leminiscus: Formed by ascending fibers arise leminiscus
from spinal, main sensory& mesencephalic nuclei of the
opposite side.
Med.leminiscus
Spinal leminiscus.
Lateral leminiscus.
C- Cranial nerve nuclei: mesencephalic nucleus& tract of
trigeminal.
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Levels of Pons Lower pons Middle pons Upper pons
1- Outline Resembles upper open medulla. The 4th ventricle acquires a Basis pontis enlarges at the
roof. expense of small tegmentum.
Bulging of MCP. 4th ventricle: smaller.
2- Most important Facial colliculous at the floor of the 4th 4 trigeminal nerve nuclei. 4 leminisci.
event ventricle..
3- Tracts&leminisci Trapezoid body: formed by decussation 1- Ventral spinocerebellar 1-Medial leminiscus.
of cochlear fibers , cross to opposite tract: ends into SCP. 2-Trigeminal leminiscus
side& ascends as lateral leminiscus. 2- Spinal leminiscus: formed by 3-Spinal leminiscus.
lateral& ventral spinothalamic 4- Lateral leminiscus.
tracts.
4- Cranial nerves 1- Spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve. Nuclei of trigeminal nerve Mesencephalic nucleus of
nuclei 2- Abducent nucleus. (motor nucleus, main sensory, trigeminal.
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3-Facial nuclei: motor, superior mesencephalic& spinal
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salivary& solitary. nucleus).
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4-Vestibulocochlear nuclei: vestibular
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nuclei(superior, lateral& medial)+
cochlear nuclei( dorsal& ventral). Dr Iman Nabil 13
Leminisci Medial leminiscus Lateral leminiscus Trigeminal leminiscus Spinal lemininscus
1- Origin Decussating fibers arise from Decussation of cochlear Formed by ascending Formed by fibers from
gracile&cuneate nuclei. fibers that arise from 2 fibers arise from spinal, the lateral& ventral
cochlear nuclei, cross to main sensory& spinothalamic tracts.
opposite side. mesencephalic nuclei of
the opposite side.
2- Termination Thalamus. Inferior colliculous of mid Thalamus. Thalamus.
brain.
3- Function Carries conscious Carries information about Carries pain, Carries pain,
proprioceptive sensations, sound. temperature, touch & temperature& crude
fine touch, vibration& two proprioception from touch from the body.
point discrimination from the the face.
body.
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Lesion in Pons
• Pontine haemorrhage: usually fatal
(widespread lesion).
Cause: mostly due to long standing
uncontrolled chronic hypertension.
Manifestations:
Decrease level of consciousness.
Paralysis: of the four limbs (quadriplegia).
Cranial nerves paresis (weakness).
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Identify the level and the pointed structures at 1&2
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Identify the level and the pointed structures at 1&2
Facial colliculus
Trapezoid body
Lower pons
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