4.

Draw a labeled diagram of the transverse section of upper part of pons showing:
A. Grey matter
B. White matter

Introduction
Pons is the bridge-like structure that links different part of the brain and serves as a relay station
from medulla to higher cortical structure of the brain.
Anterior surface is convex, contains transverse running fibers and middle cerebellar peduncle.
There is a presence of a shallow groove in the middle, sulcus basillaris lodges the basilar artery.
The V nerve arises from the anterior surface. At ponto-medullary junction emerges VI, VII, VIII
nerves.
Posterior aspect forms the upper part of the floor of fourth ventricle.

Pons is divisible into a ventral part and dorsal part.

 Ventral (basilar) part contains pontine nuclei, transverse and vertical fibers
 Pontine nuclei are a group of scattered cells separated by nerve fibers
 Transverse fibers are pontocerebellar fibers, cross the midline to enter the opposite
cerebellar peduncle.
 Vertical fibers are corticospinal, corticonuclear and corticopontine fibers. Corticonuclear
fibers end in the motor nuclei of cranial nerves mainly in the opposite side.
Dorsal part (Tegmentum):

Grey matter :

 Motor & sensory nuclei of trigeminal nerve.

White matter : MTSL

 Contains medial lemniscus, trigeminal lemniscus, spinal lemniscus,lateral lemniscus and

medial longitudinal bundle.

1. Medial lemniscus –crossed fibres of cuneate and gracile nuclei.

2. Spinal lemniscus - lateral spinothalamic tract.

3. Trigeminal lemniscus – contains fibres arising in the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve to
the thalamus.

4. Lateral lemniscus is a part of the auditory pathway.

5. Medial longitudinal bundle – is made up of fibres that interconnect the nuclei of the cranial
nerves III,IV,VI,VIII & spinal part of the accessory nerve – coordinates movements of head &
neck in response to VIII cranial nerve stimulation.