Rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus
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The rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus (riMLF) is a collection of neurons in the medial longitudinal fasciculus in the midbrain.[1] It is responsible for mediating vertical conjugate eye movements (vertical gaze)[1][2]: 458.e1 and vertical saccades.[3]: 122 It mostly projects efferents to the ipsilateral oculomotor and trochlear nuclei.[2]: 458.e1
| Rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus | |
|---|---|
Axial section through mid-brain. (Nucleus is not labeled, but MLF is "b", in red.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nucleus interstitialis |
| NeuroNames | 516 |
| NeuroLex ID | birnlex_1481 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
To mediate downgaze, it projects efferents to the ipsilateral oculomotor nucleus and trochlear nucleus; mediate upgaze,[2]: 777-778 it projects efferents to the contralateral aforementioned nuclei[3]: 122 [additional citation(s) needed] through the posterior commissure.[2]: 777-778
It is one of the accessory oculomotor nuclei.[3]: 156
Anatomy
Structure
The riMLF is a wing-shaped nucleus.[2]: 458.e1
The riMLF contains two populations of neurons: excitatory burst neurons mediating vertical gaze/saccades, as well as omnipause neurons which are functionally similar to those mediating horizontal gaze.[2]: 1464.e17
Relations
It is situated at the caudal extremity of the mesencephalon[1] at its junction with the telencephalon,[3]: 156 at the level of the superior colliculus.[1] It is situated dorsal to the rostral extremity of the red nucleus, and rostral to the interstitial nucleus of Cajal.[2]: 458.e1
Clinical significance
See also
- Interstitial nucleus of Cajal - another structure involved in vertical gaze (including torsional gaze and gaze holding, but not saccades).
- Paramedian pontine reticular formation - the horizontal gaze center.
