(cell and molecular biology) One of two large bands of white matter (containing descending axons of upper motor neurons) which emerge from the underside of the cerebral hemispheres and approach each other as they enter the rostral border of the pons.
Cerebral peduncle
| Sci-Tech Dictionary: cerebral peduncle |
(sə′rē·brəl pi′dəŋ·kəl)
| 5min Related Video: Cerebral peduncle |
| Medical Dictionary: cerebral peduncle |
n.
- The massive bundle of corticofugal nerve fibers passing longitudinally over the ventral surface of the midbrain on each side of the midline.
- Either of the two halves of the midbrain connecting the forebrain to the hindbrain.
| Wikipedia: Cerebral peduncle |
| Brain: Cerebral peduncle | ||
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| Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Ventral view. ("Cerebral peduncle" visible in red at center-right.) | ||
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| Section through superior colliculus showing path of oculomotor nerve. (Crus cerebri labeled at lower left.) | ||
| Latin | pedunculus cerebri | |
| Gray's | subject #188 800 | |
| NeuroNames | hier-478 | |
| MeSH | Cerebral+Peduncle | |
| NeuroLex ID | birnlex_1202 | |
The cerebral peduncle, by most classifications, is everything in the mesencephalon except the tectum. The region includes the midbrain tegmentum, crus cerebri, substantia nigra and pretectum. By this definition, the cerebral peduncles are also known as the basis pedunculi, while the large ventral bundle of efferent fibers is referred to as the crus cerebri or the pes pedunculi There are numerous nerve tracts located within this section of the brainstem. Of note, in the cerebral peduncular loop fibers from motor areas of the brain project to the cerebral peduncle and then project to various thalamic nuclei.
In as much as the peduncles are an anatomic landmark, for details regarding the function of this area interested readers are referred to the individual referenced articles. On a broad scale, though, this area contains many nerve tracts conveying motor information to and from the brain to the rest of the body.
Important fibers running through the cerebral peduncles include the corticospinal tract and the corticobulbar tract, among others.
Additional images
 Scheme showing the connections of the several parts of the brain. |
 Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view. |
 Dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view. |
 Deep dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view. |
 Dissection showing the projection fibers of the cerebellum. |
 Median sagittal section of brain. |
 The left optic nerve and the optic tracts. |
 Upper part of medulla spinalis and hind- and mid-brains; posterior aspect, exposed in situ. |
 Human brainstem anterior view |
See also
External links
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 | Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more |
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