Mesopontine tegmentum

Mesopontine tegmentum is a region of the brainstem that includes several structures with distinct functions. It is located in the pons and midbrain, two areas of the brainstem that play crucial roles in many essential functions of the body.

Anatomy

The mesopontine tegmentum is located in the central part of the brainstem, between the pons and the midbrain. It includes several structures, such as the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) and the cuneiform nucleus (CN). These structures are involved in various functions, including motor control, arousal, and the sleep-wake cycle.

File:Brainstem normal human.svg

The mesopontine tegmentum is located in the central part of the brainstem, between the pons and the midbrain.

Function

The mesopontine tegmentum plays a crucial role in several functions:

• Motor control: The PPN is involved in the control of gait and posture, and it is connected to several other areas of the brain that are involved in motor control, such as the basal ganglia and the cerebellum.

• Arousal and sleep-wake cycle: The PPN and CN are part of the reticular activating system, which is involved in the control of arousal and the sleep-wake cycle. They send projections to the thalamus, which is involved in the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.

• Pain modulation: The mesopontine tegmentum is also involved in the modulation of pain. It sends projections to the periaqueductal gray, a structure involved in the modulation of pain.

Clinical significance

Damage to the mesopontine tegmentum can lead to several neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. These disorders are characterized by motor symptoms, such as difficulties with gait and posture, which are related to the functions of the PPN.

See also

• Brainstem
• Pons
• Midbrain
• Pedunculopontine nucleus
• Cuneiform nucleus
• Reticular activating system