Nucleus nervi abducentis

Last edit by Alaric Steinmetz on

The nucleus of the abducens nerve (Nucleus nervi abducentis) is the somatomotor cranial nerve nucleus of the Abducens nerve.

Function

The neurons of the nucleus of the abducens nerve innervate the lateral rectus muscle via the abducens nerve.

Anatomy

The nucleus of the abducens nerve is located in the pons at the floor of the fourth ventricle. The nucleus of the abducens nerve comprises approximately 6500 nerve cells and has a length of about 1.5 mm in a newborn, which extends to about 3.0 mm in adulthood while maintaining the same number of neurons[^1].

Illustration

Schematic illustration Pons
Axial section of the brainstem at the level of the pons