Middle cerebellar peduncle

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Middle cerebellar peduncle
Dissection showing the projection fibers of the cerebellum. (Middle peduncle labeled at upper right.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	pedunculus cerebellaris medius
MeSH	D065837
NeuroNames	620
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_1529
TA98	A14.1.05.003 A14.1.07.416
TA2	5848
FMA	72515
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The middle cerebellar peduncle (or brachium pontis) is a paired structure of the brain. It connects the pons to the cerebellum, with fibres originating from the pontine nucleus and travelling to the opposite hemisphere of the cerebellar cortex. It is supplied by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) and branches from the basilar artery. It conveys information from the cerebrum and the pons to the cerebellum.

Structure

The middle cerebellar peduncle is the largest of the three cerebellar peduncles. It connects the pons and cerebellum. It consists almost entirely of fibers passing from the pons to the cerebellum (fibrocerebellar fibers); the fibers arise from the pontine nuclei and decussate within the pons before entering the peduncle to end in the contralateral hemisphere of the cerebellar cortex.

The fibers of the middle cerebellar peduncle are arranged in three fasciculi: superior, inferior, and deep.

• The superior fasciculus, the most superficial, is derived from the upper transverse fibers of the pons; it is directed backward and lateralward superficial to the other two fasciculi, and is distributed mainly to the lobules on the inferior surface of the cerebellar hemisphere and to the parts of the superior surface adjoining the posterior and lateral margins.
• The inferior fasciculus is formed by the lowest transverse fibers of the pons; it passes under cover of the superior fasciculus and is continued downward and backward more or less parallel with it, to be distributed to the folia on the under surface close to the vermis.
• The deep fasciculus comprises most of the deep transverse fibers of the pons. It is at first covered by the superior and inferior fasciculi, but crosses obliquely and appears on the medial side of the superior, from which it receives a bundle; its fibers spread out and pass to the upper anterior cerebellar folia. The fibers of this fasciculus cover those of the inferior cerebellar peduncle.

The trigeminal nerve (CN V) arises from the lateral pons very close to the middle cerebellar peduncle.

Blood supply

The middle cerebellar peduncle is supplied by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), as well as smaller branches from the basilar artery.

Function

The middle cerebellar peduncle conveys information from the cerebrum and the pons to the cerebellum.

Clinical significance

Infarction of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) can damage the middle cerebellar peduncle. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma may spread from the pons into the middle cerebellar peduncle.

Additional images

• Scheme showing the connections of the several parts of the brain.
• Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.
• Hind- and mid-brains; postero-lateral view.
• Upper part of medulla spinalis and hind- and mid-brains; posterior aspect, exposed in situ.
• Basal view of a human brain
• Dissection of human midbrain with middle cerebellar peduncle labeled.
• Cross section through lower pons showing part of the middle cerebellar peduncle (#19) forming from the convergence of pontocerebellar fibers.
• Middle cerebellar peduncle
• Cerebrum. Deep dissection. Inferior dissection.
• Fourth ventricle. Posterior view.Deep dissection.
• Cerebrum.Inferior view.Deep dissection.
• Cerebrum.Inferior view.Deep dissection.
• Cerebrum.Inferior view.Deep dissection.
• Cerebellum. Inferior surface.
• Cerebellum. Inferior surface.
• Cerebellum. Inferior surface.

See also

• Superior cerebellar peduncle
• Inferior cerebellar peduncle

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

1. ^ a b Patestas, Maria A.; Gartner, Leslie P. (2016). A Textbook of Neuroanatomy (2nd ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 290. ISBN 978-1-118-67746-9.
2. ^ Voogd, Jan; Ruigrok, Tom J. H. (2012). "15 - Cerebellum and Precerebellar Nuclei". The Human Nervous System (3rd ed.). Academic Press. pp. 471–545. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-374236-0.10015-X. ISBN 978-0-12-374236-0.
3. ^ Franklin, S. (2017). "5 - The Peripheral and Central Nervous System". Conn's Translational Neuroscience. Academic Press. pp. 113–129. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-802381-5.00007-5. ISBN 978-0-12-802381-5.
4. ^ a b DeMyer, William (2009). Stroke in Children and Young Adults (2nd ed.). Saunders. pp. 15–68. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7506-7418-8.00002-1. ISBN 978-0-7506-7418-8.
5. ^ Habas, Christophe; Manto, Mario (2018). "14 - Probing the neuroanatomy of the cerebellum using tractography". Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vol. 154. Elsevier. pp. 235–249. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-63956-1.00014-X. ISBN 978-0-444-63956-1. ISSN 0072-9752. PMID 29903442.
6. ^ Vitanza, Nicholas A.; Fisher, Paul G.; Deisseroth, Michelle Monje (2017). "128 - Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma". Swaiman's Pediatric Neurology (6th ed.). Elsevier. pp. 991–994. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-37101-8.00128-4. ISBN 978-0-323-37101-8.

External links

• Atlas image: n2a7p4 at the University of Michigan Health System

v t e Anatomy of the pons
Dorsal/ (tegmentum)	Surface Cerebellopontine angle Superior medullary velum Sulcus limitans Medial eminence Facial colliculus White: Sensory Trapezoid body Trigeminal lemniscus Dorsal trigeminal tract Ventral trigeminal tract Medial lemniscus Lateral lemniscus Central tegmental tract Medial longitudinal fasciculus Vestibulo-oculomotor fibers White: Motor Inferior cerebellar peduncle Vestibulocerebellar tract Medial longitudinal fasciculus Vestibulospinal tract Medial vestibulospinal tract Lateral vestibulospinal tract Grey: Cranial nuclei afferent: GSA Trigeminal Principal Spinal Cochlear nucleus Dorsal Anterior Vestibular nuclei Superior efferent: SVE: Trigeminal motor nucleus Facial motor nucleus GSE: Abducens nucleus GVE: Superior salivary nucleus Inferior salivary nucleus Grey: Other nuclei Pedunculopontine nucleus Apneustic center Pneumotaxic center Parabrachial nuclei Subparabrachial nucleus Medial parabrachial nucleus Lateral parabrachial nucleus Superior olivary nucleus Locus coeruleus
Ventral/ (base)	Grey Pontine nuclei White: Motor/descending Corticospinal tract Corticobulbar tract Corticopontine fibers MCP Pontocerebellar fibers Surface Basilar sulcus
Other grey: Raphe/ reticular	Reticular formation Caudal Oral Tegmental Paramedian Raphe nuclei Median

v t e Anatomy of the cerebellum
Surface	Lobes Anterior lobe Posterior lobe Horizontal fissure Flocculonodular lobe Flocculus Nodule Primary fissure Medial/lateral Vermis: anterior Central lobule Culmen Lingula posterior Folium Tuber Uvula Vallecula of cerebellum Hemisphere: anterior Alar central lobule posterior Biventer lobule Cerebellar tonsil
Grey matter	Deep cerebellar nuclei Dentate interposed Emboliform Globose Fastigial Cerebellar cortex Molecular layer Stellate cell Basket cell Purkinje cell layer Purkinje cell Bergmann glia cell = Golgi epithelial cell Fañanas cell Granule cell layer Golgi cell Granule cell Unipolar brush cell Fibers: Mossy fibers Climbing fiber Parallel fiber
White matter	Internal Arbor vitae Peduncles Inferior (medulla): Dorsal spinocerebellar tract Olivocerebellar tract Cuneocerebellar tract Juxtarestiform body (Vestibulocerebellar tract) Trigeminocerebellar fibers Middle (pons): Pontocerebellar fibers Superior (midbrain): Ventral spinocerebellar tract Dentatothalamic tract

v t e Brain and spinal cord: neural tracts and fasciculi
Sensory	DCML 1°: Pacinian corpuscle/Meissner's corpuscle → Posterior column (Gracile fasciculus/Cuneate fasciculus) → Gracile nucleus/Cuneate nucleus 2°: → sensory decussation/arcuate fibers (Posterior external arcuate fibers, Internal arcuate fibers) → Medial lemniscus/Trigeminal lemniscus → Thalamus (VPL, VPM) 3°: → Posterior limb of internal capsule → Postcentral gyrus Anterolateral/ pain Fast/lateral 1° (Free nerve ending → A delta fiber) → 2° (Anterior white commissure → Lateral and Anterior Spinothalamic tract → Spinal lemniscus → VPL of Thalamus) → 3° (Postcentral gyrus) → 4° (Posterior parietal cortex) 2° (Spinomesencephalic tract → Superior colliculus of Midbrain tectum) Slow/medial 1° (Group C nerve fiber → Spinoreticular tract → Reticular formation) → 2° (MD of Thalamus) → 3° (Cingulate cortex)
Motor	Pyramidal flexion: Primary motor cortex → Posterior limb of internal capsule → Decussation of pyramids → Corticospinal tract (Lateral, Anterior) → Neuromuscular junction Extrapyramidal flexion: Primary motor cortex → Genu of internal capsule → Corticobulbar tract → Facial motor nucleus → Facial muscles flexion: Red nucleus → Rubrospinal tract extension: Vestibulocerebellum → Vestibular nuclei → Vestibulospinal tract extension: Vestibulocerebellum → Reticular formation → Reticulospinal tract Midbrain tectum → Tectospinal tract → muscles of neck Basal ganglia direct: 1° (Motor cortex → Striatum) → 2° (GPi) → 3° (Lenticular fasciculus/Ansa lenticularis → Thalamic fasciculus → VL of Thalamus) → 4° (Thalamocortical radiations → Supplementary motor area) → 5° (Motor cortex) indirect: 1° (Motor cortex → Striatum) → 2° (GPe) → 3° (Subthalamic fasciculus → Subthalamic nucleus) → 4° (Subthalamic fasciculus → GPi) → 5° (Lenticular fasciculus/Ansa lenticularis → Thalamic fasciculus → VL of Thalamus) → 6° (Thalamocortical radiations → Supplementary motor area) → 7° (Motor cortex) nigrostriatal pathway: Pars compacta → Striatum
Cerebellar	Afferent Vestibular nuclei → Vestibulocerebellar tract → ICP → Cerebellum → Granule cell Pontine nuclei → Pontocerebellar fibers → MCP → Deep cerebellar nuclei → Granule cell Inferior olivary nucleus → Olivocerebellar tract → ICP → Hemisphere → Purkinje cell → Deep cerebellar nuclei Efferent Dentate nucleus in Lateral hemisphere/pontocerebellum → SCP → Dentatothalamic tract → Thalamus (VL) → Motor cortex Interposed nucleus in Intermediate hemisphere/spinocerebellum → SCP → Reticular formation, or → Cerebellothalamic tract → Red nucleus → Thalamus (VL) → Motor cortex Fastigial nucleus in Flocculonodular lobe/vestibulocerebellum → Vestibulocerebellar tract → Vestibular nuclei Bidirectional: Spinocerebellar Unconscious proprioception lower limb → 1° (muscle spindles → DRG) → 2° (Posterior thoracic nucleus → Dorsal/posterior spinocerebellar tract → ICP → Cerebellar vermis) upper limb → 1° (muscle spindles → DRG) → 2° (Accessory cuneate nucleus → Cuneocerebellar tract → ICP → Anterior lobe of cerebellum) Reflex arc lower limb → 1° (Golgi tendon organ) → 2° (Ventral/anterior spinocerebellar tract→ SCP → Cerebellar vermis) upper limb → 1° (Golgi tendon organ) → 2° (Rostral spinocerebellar tract → ICP → Cerebellum)

Authority control databases	Terminologia Anatomica 2