The mesencephalic nucleus is involved with proprioception of the face, that is, the feeling of position of the muscles. Unlike many nuclei within the CNS, the mesencephalic nucleus contains no chemical synapses but are electrically coupled.[1] Instead, neurons of this nucleus are pseudounipolar cells receiving proprioceptive information from the jaw, and sending projections to the motor trigeminal nucleus to mediate monosynaptic jaw reflexes. It is also the only structure in the CNS to contain the cell bodies of a primary afferent, which are usually contained within ganglia (like the trigeminal ganglion).
See also
References
- ^ Baker R, Llinás R (1971). "Electrotonic coupling between neurones in the rat mesencephalic nucleus". J. Physiol. (Lond.) 212 (1): 45–63. PMID 5545184.
External links
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Nerves of head and neck: the cranial nerves and nuclei |
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| olfactory (AON->I) |
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| optic (LGN->II) |
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oculomotor
(ON, EWN->III) |
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| trochlear (TN->IV) |
no significant branches
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trigeminal
(PSN,TSN,MN,TMN->V) |
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| abducens (AN->VI) |
no significant branches
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| facial (FMN,SN,SSN->VII) |
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vestibulocochlear
(VN, CN->VIII) |
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glossopharyngeal
(NA, ISN, SN->IX) |
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vagus
(NA, DNVN, SN->X) |
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| accessory (NA,SAN->XI) |
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| hypoglossal (HN->XII) |
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