2 Minute Neuroscience: The Pons

Overview

• Pons: A major division of the brainstem located above the medulla and below the midbrain.
• Name Origin: "Pons" is Latin for "bridge."
  • Named for the appearance of the basal/basilar pons.
  • Appears as a bridge connecting the two hemispheres of the cerebellum.

Structure

• Basal Pons (Anterior Part)
  • Resembles a bridge but doesn’t directly connect cerebellar hemispheres.
  • Attached to the cerebellum by the middle cerebellar peduncles.
• Pontine Tegmentum/Dorsal Pons: Located behind the basal pons.

Functions and Pathways

• Tracts and Nuclei
  • Numerous, highlighting some notable ones:
  • Middle Cerebellar Peduncles: Major path between brainstem and cerebellum.
  • Inferior Cerebellar Peduncles: Carries information to cerebellum.
  • Superior Cerebellar Peduncles: Carries information from cerebellum to brainstem.

Role in the Brain

• Fourth Ventricle: The pons forms most of its floor.
• Cranial Nerve Nuclei
  • Trigeminal Nuclei: Sensory and motor functions of head/face.
  • Abducens Nucleus: Controls lateral eye movements.
  • Facial Motor Nucleus: Controls muscles of facial expression.
  • Vestibular Nuclei: Processes vestibular information.

Neurotransmitter Centers

• Locus Coeruleus: Largest collection of norepinephrine-containing neurons in the brain.
• Raphe Nuclei: Major serotonin-producing neurons of the brain.

Conduit for Neural Tracts

• Corticospinal Tract: Related to voluntary movement.
• Medial Lemniscus: For tactile and proprioceptive sensations.
• Spinothalamic Tract: Conveys pain and temperature sensations.

These notes summarize the primary points of the short lecture on the pons, including its structure, functions, and role in the brain's neural pathways.