Cranial nerve nucleus

A cranial nerve nucleus is a collection of neurons (gray matter) in the brain stem that is associated with one or more of the cranial nerves.

Axons carrying information to and from the cranial nerves form a synapse first at these nuclei.

Lesions occurring at these nuclei can lead to effects resembling those seen by the severing of nerve(s) they are associated with.

In general, motor nuclei are closer to the front (ventral), and sensory nuclei and neurons are closer to the back (dorsal).

This list documents nuclei by the part of the brain they are found in:

Micrograph of the posterior portion of the open part of the medulla oblongata , showing the fourth ventricle (top of image) and the hypoglossal nucleus (medial - left of image) and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (lateral - right of image). H&E-LFB stain .