Abducens nucleus

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Brain: Abducens nucleus
The cranial nerve nuclei schematically represented; dorsal view. Motor nuclei in red; sensory in blue. The olfactory and optic centers are not represented. (Abducens nucleus is VI)
Latin nucleus nervi abducentis
Gray's subject #187 787
Part of Pons
Artery Pontine branches of the Basilar artery
NeuroNames hier-580
Dorlands/Elsevier n_11/12581919

The abducens nucleus is the originating nucleus from which the abducens nerve emerges - a cranial nerve nucleus. This nucleus is located beneath the fourth ventricle in the caudal portion of the pons, medial to the sulcus limitans.

The abducens nucleus along with the internal genu of the facial nerve make up the facial colliculus, a hump at the caudal end of the medial eminence on the dorsal aspect of the pons.

Damage to the abducens nucleus causes monocular medial ophthalmoparesis: specifically, loss of the ability to move the ipsilateral eye outward (abduction). This is also seen in damage of the abducens nerve.

In contrast, damage to the area of the nucleus can also result in lateral gaze paralysis: loss of the ability to move both eyes conjugately away from the side of the lesion. This is due to damage to both the motoneurons and interneurons projecting through the medial longitudinal fasciculus to the contralateral medial rectus neurons.

Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view.

Primary terminal nuclei of the afferent (sensory) cranial nerves schematically represented; lateral view.

Scheme showing central connections of the optic nerves and optic tracts.

Figure showing the mode of innervation of the Recti medialis and lateralis of the eye.

Axial section of the Brainstem (Pons) at the level of the Facial Colliculus

Vestibulo-ocular reflex

v • d • e
Brain: rhombencephalon (hindbrain)
Myelencephalon/medulla

anterior/ventral: Arcuate nucleus of medulla • Pyramid (Decussation) • Olivary body • Inferior olivary nucleus • Anterior median fissure • Ventral respiratory group

posterior/dorsal: VII,IX,X: Solitary/tract • XII, X: Dorsal • IX,X,XI: Ambiguus • IX: Inferior salivatory nucleus • Gracile nucleus/Cuneate nucleus/Accessory cuneate nucleus • Area postrema • Posterior median sulcus • Dorsal respiratory group

raphe/reticular: Sensory decussation • Reticular formation (Gigantocellular nucleus, Parvocellular reticular nucleus, Ventral reticular nucleus, Lateral reticular nucleus, Paramedian reticular nucleus) • Raphe nuclei (Obscurus, Magnus, Pallidus)

tracts: Corticospinal tract (Lateral, Anterior) • Inferior cerebellar peduncle • Olivocerebellar tract • Spinocerebellar (Dorsal, Ventral) • Spinothalamic tract • PCML (Posterior external arcuate fibers, Internal arcuate fibers, Medial lemniscus) • Extrapyramidal (Rubrospinal tract, Vestibulospinal tract, Tectospinal tract)
Metencephalon/pons
Metencephalon/cerebellum Vermis • Flocculus • Arbor vitae • Cerebellar tonsil • Inferior medullary velum

Molecular layer (Stellate cell, Basket cell, Parallel fiber) • Purkinje cell layer (Purkinje cell) • Granule cell layer (Golgi cell) • Mossy fibers • Climbing fiber

Deep cerebellar nuclei (Dentate, Emboliform, Globose, Fastigial)
Fourth ventricle apertures (Median, Lateral) • Rhomboid fossa (Vagal trigone, Hypoglossal trigone, Obex, Sulcus limitans, Facial colliculus, Medial eminence) • Lateral recess
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Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abducens_nucleus"
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