Abducens nucleus
Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 19 Feb 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Hacking C, Sharma R, Weerakkody Y, et al. Abducens nucleus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 09 Oct 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-80959
Permalink:
rID:
80959
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:
12 times, by
5 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Abducent nucleus
The abducens nucleus is a small motor nucleus in the pons for the abducens nerve.
Gross anatomy
The nucleus is located in the paramedian dorsal lower pons in the floor of the fourth ventricle lateral to the medial longitudinal fasciculus. The nucleus forms a longitudinal paramedian column of somatic motor nuclei along with the trochlear, oculomotor and hypoglossal nuclei.
Abducens efferent fibers leave the nucleus ventrally passing through the reticular formation and medial lemniscus, medial to the facial nucleus. The fibers of the facial nerve motor nucleus wrap around the abducens nucleus, creating the facial colliculus.
On the ventral surface of the brainstem the fibers emerge between the lower pons and medullary pyramid.
Innervation
The nucleus houses the motor cell bodies that innervate the lateral rectus muscle in the orbit.
References
- 1. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. ISBN: 9780702052309
- 4. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. ISBN: 9780632054039
- 5. A. R. Crossman, David Neary. Neuroanatomy. (2014) ISBN: 9780702054051 - Google Books
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