Trochlear nucleus

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 19 Feb 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Hacking C, Sharma R, Gaillard F, Trochlear nucleus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 20 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-80958

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-80958

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/80958

rID:

80958

Article created:

10 Aug 2020, Craig Hacking ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.

View Craig Hacking's current disclosures

Last revised:

19 Feb 2024, Rohit Sharma ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Rohit Sharma had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Rohit Sharma's current disclosures

Revisions:

7 times, by 3 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Central Nervous System

Sections:

Anatomy

The trochlear nucleus is a small motor nucleus in the midbrain for the trochlear nerve.

Gross anatomy

The nucleus is located in the midbrain at the level of the inferior colliculus ventral and medial periaqueductal grey and dorsal to the medial longitudinal fasciculus. It lies just caudal to the oculomotor nucleus and Edinger-Westphal nucleus. The nucleus forms a longitudinal paramedian column of somatic motor nuclei along with the abducens, oculomotor and hypoglossal nuclei.

Trochlear efferent fibers leave the nucleus dorsally and laterally passing around the periaqueductal grey matter and descend medial to the mesencephalic nucleus where they decussate at the level of the superior medullary velum. The fibers emerge just caudal and lateral to the inferior colliculus.