medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF)

Innervation

• the MLF is composed largely of nerve fibers from the vestibular nuclei ascending to motor neurons innervating the extraocular muscles in the abducens nuclei, trochlear nuclei & oculomotor nuclei, & descending to cervical spinal cord segments innervating musclature of the neck.

Course

• a longitudinal bundle of nerve fibers extending from the upper border of the mesencephalon into the cervical spinal cord
• it is situated ventral to the central gray matter, near the midline.

More general terms

• CNS white matter tract

Component of

• mesencephalon (midbrain)
• pons