Everything about The Solitary Nucleus totally explained
The
solitary nucleus and
tract are structures in the
brainstem that carry and receive visceral sensation and
taste from the
facial (VII),
glossopharyngeal (IX),
vagus (X)
cranial nerves, as well as the cranial part of the
accessory nerve (XI).
Anatomy
The nucleus is located along the length of the medulla (with a small portion in the lower
pons). The solitary tract runs in the middle of the nucleus, creating a speck of
white matter (axons of the tract), surrounded by
grey matter (the nucleus). This stands out on a stained section, which is where the name solitary comes from.
The solitary nucleus is divided into a rostral (towards the top)
gustatory nucleus and caudal (towards the bottom) region of neurons. Sub regions of the solitary nucleus can be related to the distribution of inputs - particularly contacts from cranial primary afferent neurons (see below) related to cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal functions. There is some degree of localization within the caudal region so that many cardiovascular neurons sit near the midline of the nucleus, and many respiratory related neurons are located laterally within the nucleus.
Inputs to the solitary nucleus
In addition to afferent taste information from nerves VII, IX and X, the solitary nucleus also handles primary afferent signals from a variety of visceral regions and organs. These afferents include chemoreceptors in the
carotid (via IX) and
aortic bodies (via X) as well as stretch receptors from the aorta and carotid arteries called arterial baroreceptors. In addition, chemically and mechanically sensitive neurons with endings located in the heart, lungs, airways, gastrointestinal system, liver and other viscera send axons via cranial nerves (IX and X) chiefly that directly enter the brainstem to form synapses within the caudal third of the solitary nucleus. Neurons that synapse in this nucleus mediate the gag reflex, the carotid sinus reflex, the aortic reflex, the cough reflex, the baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes, several respiratory reflexes and reflexes within the gastrointestinal system regulating motility and secretion. Information about the gut wall, as well as stretch of the
lungs and dryness of
mucous membranes, also
synapses at the solitary nucleus. These first central neurons within the solitary nucleus can participate in autonomic reflexes that may be as simple as two central neurons with the second neuron being an efferent or motor neuron that projects back directly to the organ such as the heart forming some of the simplest reflex pathways in the brain.
Outputs from the solitary nucleus
Information goes from the solitary nucleus to a large number of other regions of the brain including the
hypothalamus and
cingulate gyrus, as well as to other nuclei in the brainstem (such as visceral motor or respiratory networks).
Additional images
Image:Gray694.png|Section of the medulla oblongata at about the middle of the olive.
Image:Gray698.png|Primary terminal nuclei of the afferent (sensory) cranial nerves schematically represented; lateral view.
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