2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
2 Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology
Part I: Anatomy
Chapter 3: Cranial Nerves: Central and Peripheral Connections
Trigeminal Nerve (Fifth Cranial Nerve)
Main Sensory Nucleus
The main sensory nucleus lies in the pons, lateral to the motor nucleus. It is continuous with the mesencephalic nucleus (above) and with the spinal nucleus (below). The main sensory nucleus receives its input from ascending branches of the sensory root, and it serves light touch from the skin and mucous membranes. The sensory root of CN V, upon entering the pons, divides into an ascending tract and a descending tract. The ascending tract terminates in the main sensory nucleus, and the descending tract ends in the spinal nucleus.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 2 - Fundamentals and Principles of Ophthalmology. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.