middle cerebellar peduncle (brachium pontis)

Origin

• it is composed largely of fibers that originate in the pontine nuclei

Efferents

• the largest of the 3 cerebellar peduncles carrying nerve fibers to the cerebellum (cerebellar input)
• its fibers are largely distributed to the cerebellar cortex
• cerebellar nuclei also receive some of the fibers.

Course

• fibers cross the midline in the basilar pons & emerge on the contralateral side as a bundle
• the bundle of fibers arches dorsally along the lateral side of the pontine tegmentum into the cerebellum
• some uncrossed pontocerebellar fibers are also found

More general terms

• cerebellar peduncle