lateral lemniscus

Introduction

A bundle of fibers ascending from the cochlear nucleus to the inferior colliculus.

Course

• in the pons
  • enters trapezoid body where 1/2 of fibers decussate
  • ascends along lateral side of spinothalamic tract
• in the midbrain
  • arches dorsally
  • terminates in inferior colliculus
• perikarya in the inferior colliculus, in turn, project to medial geniculate of thalamus
• perikarya in medial geniculate project to the auditory cortex via the auditory radiation

More general terms

• CNS white matter tract

Component of

• mesencephalon (midbrain)
• pons