Pons

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Brain: Pons
Diagram showing the positions of the three principal subarachnoid cisternæ. (Pons visible at center.)
Anteroinferior view of the medulla oblongata and pons.
Gray's	subject #187 785
Part of	Brain stem
Artery	pontine arteries
NeuroNames	hier-538
MeSH	Pons

WikiDoc Resources for Pons
Articles
Most recent articles on Pons Most cited articles on Pons Review articles on Pons Articles on Pons in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Pons Images of Pons Photos of Pons Podcasts & MP3s on Pons Videos on Pons
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Pons Bandolier on Pons TRIP on Pons
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Pons at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Pons Clinical Trials on Pons at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Pons NICE Guidance on Pons NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Pons CDC on Pons
Books
Books on Pons
News
Pons in the news Be alerted to news on Pons News trends on Pons
Commentary
Blogs on Pons
Definitions
Definitions of Pons
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Pons Discussion groups on Pons Patient Handouts on Pons Directions to Hospitals Treating Pons Risk calculators and risk factors for Pons
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Pons Causes & Risk Factors for Pons Diagnostic studies for Pons Treatment of Pons
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Pons
International
Pons en Espanol Pons en Francais
Businness
Pons in the Marketplace Patents on Pons
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Pons

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Overview

The pons (sometimes pons Varolii after Costanzo Varolio) is a structure located on the brain stem. It is rostral to the medulla oblongata, caudal to the midbrain, and ventral to the cerebellum. In humans and other bipeds this means it is above the medulla, below the midbrain, and anterior to the cerebellum.

Function

It is part of the central nervous system, and relays sensory information between the cerebellum and cerebrum. Aids in relaying messages in the brain, and contains the pneumotaxic centres that help regulate respiration. Also controls arousal. Some theories pose that it has a role in dreaming.^[1]

Anatomy of the pons

The "knob-like" process is 2 centimeters long and located on the anterior (front) of the brainstem. It is formed of nerves that travel from one side (left or right) to the other. Most other fibres in the brainstem travel up and down.

The posterior (back) surface of the pons forms part of the wall of the fourth ventricle of the brain.

Most blood to the pons is supplied by pontine arteries. These are small arteries that branch off the basilar artery (of the Circle of Willis). Blood also comes from the anterior inferior, and superior cerebellar arteries.

There are two main domains in the pons for control of respiration:^[1]

• the apneustic center - lower pons
• the pneumotaxic center - upper pons

Cranial nerve nuclei

A number of cranial nerve nuclei are present in the pons:

• mid-pons: The chief or pontine nucleus of the trigeminal nerve sensory nucleus (V)
• mid-pons: the motor nucleus for the trigeminal nerve (V)
• lower down in the pons: abducens nucleus (VI)
• lower down in the pons: facial nerve nucleus (VII)
• lower down in the pons: vestibulocochlear nuclei (vestibular nuclei and cochlear nuclei) (VIII)

Additional images

Scheme showing the connections of the several parts of the brain.	Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.	Superficial dissection of brain-stem. Ventral view.	Coronal section of the pons, at its upper part.
Dissection showing the projection fibers of the cerebellum.	Sagittal section through right cerebellar hemisphere. The right olive has also been cut sagitally.	Scheme of roof of fourth ventricle. The arrow is in the foramen of Majendie.	Mesal aspect of a brain sectioned in the median sagittal plane.
Coronal section of brain immediately in front of pons.	Hind- and mid-brains; postero-lateral view.	Median sagittal section of brain.	Dissection showing the course of the cerebrospinal fibers.
Terminal nuclei of the cochlear nerve, with their upper connections.	Terminal nuclei of the vestibular nerve, with their upper connections.	The hypophysis cerebri in position. Shown in sagittal section.	Pituitary and pineal glands
Axial section of the Brainstem (Pons) at the level of the Facial Colliculus

References

External links

• Diagram at UCC
• BrainMaps at UCDavis Pons

v • d • e Brain: rhombencephalon (hindbrain)
Myelencephalon/medulla	anterior/ventral: Arcuate nucleus of medulla • Pyramid (Decussation) • Olivary body • Inferior olivary nucleus • Anterior median fissure • Ventral respiratory group posterior/dorsal: VII,IX,X: Solitary/tract • XII, X: Dorsal • IX,X,XI: Ambiguus • IX: Inferior salivatory nucleus • Gracile nucleus/Cuneate nucleus/Accessory cuneate nucleus • Area postrema • Posterior median sulcus • Dorsal respiratory group raphe/reticular: Sensory decussation • Reticular formation (Gigantocellular nucleus, Parvocellular reticular nucleus, Ventral reticular nucleus, Lateral reticular nucleus, Paramedian reticular nucleus) • Raphe nuclei (Obscurus, Magnus, Pallidus) tracts: Corticospinal tract (Lateral, Anterior) • Inferior cerebellar peduncle • Olivocerebellar tract • Spinocerebellar (Dorsal, Ventral) • Spinothalamic tract • PCML (Posterior external arcuate fibers, Internal arcuate fibers, Medial lemniscus) • Extrapyramidal (Rubrospinal tract, Vestibulospinal tract, Tectospinal tract)
Metencephalon/pons	anterior/ventral: Superior olivary nucleus • Basis pontis (Pontine nuclei, Middle cerebellar peduncles) posterior/dorsal: Pontine tegmentum (Trapezoid body, Superior medullary velum, Locus ceruleus, MLF, Vestibulocerebellar tract, V Principal Spinal & Motor, VI, VII, VII: Superior salivary nucleus) • VIII-c (Dorsal, Anterior)/VIII-v (Lateral, Superior, Medial, Inferior) raphe/reticular: Reticular formation (Caudal pontine reticular nucleus, Oral pontine reticular nucleus, Tegmental pontine reticular nucleus, Paramedian pontine reticular formation) • Median raphe nucleus Apneustic center • Pneumotaxic center
Metencephalon/cerebellum	Vermis • Flocculus • Arbor vitae • Cerebellar tonsil • Inferior medullary velum Molecular layer (Stellate cell, Basket cell, Parallel fiber) • Purkinje cell layer (Purkinje cell) • Granule cell layer (Golgi cell) • Mossy fibers • Climbing fiber Deep cerebellar nuclei (Dentate, Emboliform, Globose, Fastigial)
Fourth ventricle	apertures (Median, Lateral) • Rhomboid fossa (Vagal trigone, Hypoglossal trigone, Obex, Sulcus limitans, Facial colliculus, Medial eminence) • Lateral recess

v • d • e WikiDoc Research Resources for Pons (Click show to right to view)
Articles on Pons	Most recent articles on Pons • Most cited articles on Pons • Review articles on Pons • Articles on Pons in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media (Slides, Video, Images, MP3) on Pons	Powerpoint slides on Pons • Images of Pons • Photos of Pons • Podcasts & MP3s on Pons • Videos on Pons
Evidence Based Medicine Regarding Pons	Cochrane Collaboration on Pons • Bandolier on Pons • TRIP on Pons
Cost Effectiveness of Pons	Cost Effectiveness of Pons
Clinical Trials Involving Pons	Ongoing Trials on Pons at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Pons • Clinical Trials on Pons at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Pons	US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Pons • NICE Guidance on Pons • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Pons • CDC on Pons
Textbook Information on Pons	Books and Textbook Information on Pons
Pharmacology Resources on Pons	Dosing of Pons • Drug interactions with Pons • Side effects of Pons • Allergic reactions to Pons • Overdose information on Pons • Carcinogenicity information on Pons • Pons in pregnancy • Pharmacokinetics of Pons •
Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Pons	Genetics of Pons • Pharmacogenomics of Pons • Proteomics of Pons
Newstories on Pons	Pons in the news • Be alerted to news on Pons • News trends on Pons
Commentary on Pons	Blogs on Pons
Patient Resources on Pons	Patient resources on Pons • Discussion groups on Pons • Patient Handouts on Pons • Directions to Hospitals Treating Pons • Risk calculators and risk factors for Pons
Healthcare Provider Resources on Pons	Symptoms of Pons • Causes & Risk Factors for Pons • Diagnostic studies for Pons • Treatment of Pons
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Pons	CME Programs on Pons
International Resources on Pons	Pons en Espanol • Pons en Francais
Business Resources on Pons	Pons in the Marketplace • Patents on Pons
Informatics Resources on Pons	List of terms related to Pons

cs:Varolův most

da:Pons de:Pons fr:Pont de Varole it:Ponte di Varolio lt:Tiltas (smegenys) nl:Pons (hersenen) ja:橋 (脳)sk:Varolov most sr:Варолијев мост fi:Aivosilta

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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content

Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .