Dr.

Dalia El-wafaey
Lecturer of Anatomy & Embryology

sinaiuniversity.net
1
PONS
It lies between the midbrain and medulla. On either side, the pons is
continuous as the middle cerebellar peduncle, thus forming a bridge between
the two cerebellar hemispheres, hence its name pons (L. pons = bridge).
- It provides attachment to the middle four cranial nerves.
EXTERNAL FEATURES
Features on the Ventral Aspect: The ventral surface of pons is convex
1. The basilar sulcus (groove): it presents a vertical groove, which lodges the basilar artery.
2. Basis pontis: Raised area on each side of sulcus formed by pyramidal fibers and its surface shows transverse
ridges formed by pontocerebellar fibers.
3. Middle cerebellar peduncle (M.C.P.): thick bundle connect pons with cerebellum.
4. The trigeminal nerve is attached to this surface by two roots: a small motor and a large sensory root (the motor
root lies medial to the sensory root).
5. The pontomedullary junction is marked by a shallow groove. In this groove, from medial to lateral, the abducent
(6th), facial (7th), and vestibulecochlear (8th) nerves emerge.
Features on the Dorsal Aspect
The dorsal surface of the pons is triangular and forms the upper part of the floor of the 4th ventricle separated from
dorsal surface of medulla by transvers white fibers, the stria medullaris.
1. A median sulcus: in midline
2. Medial eminence: it is a longitudinal elevation on either side of the median sulcus, produced by abducent nucleus
3. Facial colliculus: rounded swelling on the lower part of medial eminence formed by facial nerve and abducent
nucleus
4. Superior fovea: depression lateral to medial eminence.
5. Vestibular area: lateral to overlies the vestibular nuclei.
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF PONS
 Basilar part
It is composed of the longitudinal bundles of fibers, the transverse fibers,
and the pontine nuclei:
1. Longitudinal bundles of fibers include:
(a) The corticopontine fibers.
(b) The corticonuclear fibers.
(c) The corticospinal fibers converge to form the pyramids of the medulla.
2. Transverse fibers arise in the pontine nuclei and cross to the opposite
side to form the middle cerebellar peduncle. These are pontocerebellar fibers.
3. Pontine nuclei are scattered among the longitudinal and transverse fibers.
 Tegmental part
- It is traversed by a number of ascending and descending tracts and the trapezoid body (decussation of fibers arising
from the cochlear nuclei of both the sides).
- It also contains the nuclei of trigeminal (5th), abducent (6th), facial (7th), and vestibulocochlear (8th) nerves.
Cranial nerve Nuclei Non cranial n. Tracts
1. Motor nucleus of trigeminal nerve (5th) - Pontine nuclei 1- Medial lemniscus
2.Principal (main) sensory nucleus of the 2- Spinal lemniscus
trigeminal nerve (5th) 3- Lateral lemniscus.
3. abducent nucleus (6th) 4- Trigeminal lemniscus
4. motor nucleus of the facial nerve (7th) 5-Medial longitudinal bundle
5.Superior salivatory, and lacrimatory nuclei (7th) 6-Tectospinal tracts.
6. vestibular nuclei (8th )
7. dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei (8th )
MIDBRAIN
The midbrain is the shortest segment of the
brainstem. It connects the pons to cerebrum. Its
cavity, the cerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of
Sylvius) connects the 3rd ventricle with the 4th
ventricle.
It related to 3rd and 4th cranial nerves
EXTERNAL FEATURES
Features on the Ventral Aspect
The ventral surface of the midbrain presents two
cerebral peduncle which separated by
interpeduncular fossa.
The oculomotor nerve emerges on either side
from a groove on the medial side of the crus
cerebri
Features on the Dorsal Aspect
1. The dorsal surface of the midbrain presents four rounded
elevations: Two superior and two inferior colliculi.
2. The colliculi are separated from each other by a cruciform Pineal body
sulcus.
3. Pineal body: lodges in depression in upper aspect of
Cruciform sulcus
vertical limb of sulcus.
4. The trochlear nerves emerge one on each side below
inferior colliculus after decussation.
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF MIDBRAIN
Its cavity shows a tiny canal, called cerebral aqueduct. It divides
the midbrain into two parts:
The small posterior part consists of four colliculi.
A- The superior colliculus:
It is a mass of gray matter.
It is connected to the lateral geniculate body by the superior
brachium.
It is a center for visual reflexes: it is responsible for
movements of the eyes, head and neck, upper limb and the
trunk in response to visual stimuli.
B- Inferior Colliculus:
It is a mass of gray matter.
It is connected to the medial geniculate body by the inferior
brachium.
It is a lower center for hearing.
It is responsible for:
1- Tonal discrimination and sound localization.
2- Auditory reflexes.
The large anterior part is divided into two
halves, the cerebral peduncles. Each peduncle
is further subdivided into three parts; from
dorsal to ventral, these are:
(a) tegmentum, (b) substantia nigra, and (c)
crus cerebri.
Crus Cerebri (Basis Pedunculi)
It contains important descending tracts which
connect the cerebral cortex to the anterior horn
cells of the spinal cord, cranial nerve nuclei,
and pontine nuclei (corticospinal,
corticonuclear and corticopontine tracts) .
Substantia Nigra
Crescent pigmented band of grey matter
situated between tegmentum and crus cerebri.
The substantia nigra is made up of deeply
pigmented nerve cells.
Tegmentum
Red nucleus:
It is a large ovoid mass of gray matter. It is pink in color due to its
high content of iron pigment.
It lies in the medial part of the tegmentum at the level of the
superior colliculus.
It is an important station in the extrapyramidal system through
which the cerebellum controls the activity of the spinal cord and
medulla oblongata.
Decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncles

Ventral tegmental decussation:

A decussation of rubrospinal tracts arising from red nuclei.

Dorsal tegmental decussation:

A decussation of tectospinal and tectobulbar tracts arising from

superior colliculi
Cranial nerve Nuclei
-Oculomotor nucleus (3rd)
-Edinger westephal n. (3rd)
-Trochlear nucleus (4th )
-Mesencephalic n. of
trigeminal nerve (5th ).
Non cranial n. nuclei White matter
-Nucleus of inferior colliculus 1. Decussation of the superior cerebellar
-Nucleus of Superior colliculus peduncles.
-Pretectal nucleus 2. Medial lemniscus
-Red nucleus 3. Trigeminal lemniscus
4. Spinal lemniscus
5. Lateral lemniscus.
6. Medial longitudinal bundle
7. Dorsal tegmental decussation
8.Ventral tegmental decussation
ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE BRAIN STEM:
• The medulla is supplied by the following arteries:
1. Two vertebral arteries.
2. Posterior inferior cerebellar arteries
• The pons is supplied by: Pontine branches from the basilar artery.
• The midbrain is supplied by: Posterior cerebral arteries.
The interpeduncular fossa:

Definition: it is a rhomboid-shaped area of the base of

the brain.
Boundaries:
Anteriorly: the optic chiasma.
Posteriorly: the anterior surface of pons.
Antero-laterally: optic tracts:
Postero-laterally: cerebral peuncles
The structure of the floor: from behind forward are:
•the posterior perforated substance
•mammillary bodies
•tuber cinereum
Contents of interpeduncular fossa: include
•oculomotor nerve
•circle of Willis.
Circle of willis:
Structure: The circle of Willis is a part of the cerebral
circulation and is composed of the following 9 arteries:
•Posterior cerebral artery (left and right): from basilar artery
•Internal carotid artery (left and right)
•Posterior communicating artery (left and right) connects
posterior cerebral with internal carotid arteries.
•Anterior cerebral artery (left and right): from internal carotid
•Anterior communicating artery: connects both anterior
cerebral arteries.
Function
It creates collateral circulation in the cerebral circulation. If
one part of the circle becomes blocked or narrowed (stenosed)
or one of the arteries supplying the circle is blocked or
narrowed, blood flow from the other blood vessels can often
preserve the cerebral perfusion well enough to avoid the
symptoms of ischemia.
THANK YOU

For any questions feel free

to contact me by mail
Dalia.elwafaey@su.edu.eg

Dr. Dalia El-wafaey

Lecturer of Anatomy & Embryology

18