Pons

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
Business
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.

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:

• 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

External links

• Diagram at UCC
• BrainMaps at UCDavis Pons

Cost Effectiveness of Pons

| group5 = Clinical Trials Involving Pons | list5 = Ongoing Trials on Pons at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Pons • Clinical Trials on Pons at Google

| group6 = Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Pons | list6 = US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Pons • NICE Guidance on Pons • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Pons • CDC on Pons

| group7 = Textbook Information on Pons | list7 = Books and Textbook Information on Pons

| group8 = Pharmacology Resources on Pons | list8 = AND (Dose)}} Dosing of Pons • AND (drug interactions)}} Drug interactions with Pons • AND (side effects)}} Side effects of Pons • AND (Allergy)}} Allergic reactions to Pons • AND (overdose)}} Overdose information on Pons • AND (carcinogenicity)}} Carcinogenicity information on Pons • AND (pregnancy)}} Pons in pregnancy • AND (pharmacokinetics)}} Pharmacokinetics of Pons •

| group9 = Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Pons | list9 = AND (pharmacogenomics)}} Genetics of Pons • AND (pharmacogenomics)}} Pharmacogenomics of Pons • AND (proteomics)}} Proteomics of Pons

| group10 = Newstories on Pons | list10 = Pons in the news • Be alerted to news on Pons • News trends on Pons</small>

| group11 = Commentary on Pons | list11 = Blogs on Pons

| group12 = Patient Resources on Pons | list12 = Patient resources on Pons • Discussion groups on Pons • Patient Handouts on Pons • Directions to Hospitals Treating Pons • Risk calculators and risk factors for Pons

| group13 = Healthcare Provider Resources on Pons | list13 = Symptoms of Pons • Causes & Risk Factors for Pons • Diagnostic studies for Pons • Treatment of Pons

| group14 = Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Pons | list14 = CME Programs on Pons

| group15 = International Resources on Pons | list15 = Pons en Espanol • Pons en Francais

| group16 = Business Resources on Pons | list16 = Pons in the Marketplace • Patents on Pons

| group17 = Informatics Resources on Pons | list17 = List of terms related to Pons

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