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 16 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-80959

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-80959

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/80959

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:

Central Nervous System

Sections:

Anatomy

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.