Nucleus nervi trochlearis

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Synonyms: Ncl. n. trochlearis

The nucleus nervi trochlearis is a somatomotor cranial nerve nucleus located in the mesencephalon.

Function

As a purely somatomotor cranial nerve nucleus, it contains typical motor neurons that are responsible for innervation of the musculus obliquus superior via the nervus trochlearis. This causes the eye to look downward and laterally and become intorted1.

Anatomy

The nucleus nervi trochlearis is located in the midbrain, ventral to the cerebral aqueduct, at the level of the anterior portion of the colliculi inferiores. The medial longitudinal fasciculus runs ventral to the trochlear nucleus2. The fibers of the nucleus nervi trochlearis cross to the contralateral side immediately after leaving the nucleus and emerge as the nervus trochlearis, the only cranial nerve to exit dorsally from the brainstem.

References

    1. Trepel, Martin. Neuroanatomy: Structure and Function. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2021. ↩ ↩

    2. Benninghoff A. Cardiovascular System, Lymphatic System, Endocrine System, Nervous System, Sensory Organs, Skin Vol. 2. Elsevier, Urban&FischerVerlag; 2004 ↩ ↩

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