pons

Function

• main connection between the cerebellum & the brain stem through the cerebellar peduncles

Structure

• white matter is only the anterior surface of the pons
• gray matter beneath that is a continuation of the tegmentum from the midbrain

* image

Afferents

• gray matter in the tegmentum region of the pons contains neurons receiving descending input from the forebrain

Efferents

• neurons in the pons tegmentum sends nerve fibers into the cerebellun via the middle cerebellar peduncle & inferior cerebellar peduncle

More general terms

• brainstem structure

Additional terms

• brainstem hemorrhage
• cerebellopontine angle
• pontine artery
• pontine nucleus/gray matter
• pontine paramedian reticular formation (PPRF)

Component of

• rhombencephalon or hindbrain
• brainstem

Components

• olivocerebellar tract
• trapezoid body
• facial nucleus
• corticobulbar tract
• subpeduncular nucleus
• rubrospinal tract
• trigeminal lemniscus
• medial lemniscus (Reil band)
• lateral lemniscus
• central (ventral) tegmental tract
• dorsal longitudinal fasciculus
• medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF)
• tectobulbar tract
• tectospinal tract
• spinotectal tract
• occipitotemporopontine tract
• frontopontine (frontothalamopontomedullary) tract
• spinothalamic tract
• corticospinal tract
• locus ceruleus (locus ferrugineus, substantia ferruginea, locus cinereus)