Central tegmental tract

The central tegmental tract[1] is a structure in the midbrain and pons.

Central tegmental tract
Diagram of the midbrain, sectioned at the level of the superior colliculus (Central tegmental tract not labeled, but region is visible.)
Axial section of the Brainstem (Pons) at the level of the Facial Colliculus (Central tegmental tract not labeled, but region is visible.)
Details
Identifiers
LatinTractus tegmentalis centralis
NeuroNames2204
TA98A14.1.05.325
TA25869
FMA83850
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

It contains:

  • ascending axonal fibers that arise from the rostral nucleus solitarius and terminate in the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) of thalamus. Information from the thalamus will go to cortical taste area, namely the insula and frontal operculum.
  • descending rubroolivary fibers arising from the parvocellular red nucleus to terminate in the ipsilateral inferior olivary nucleus.[2]: 292, 298  This latter pathway (the rubro-olivary tract) will be used to connect the contralateral cerebellum.
  • ascending[2]: 306  reticulothalamic fibres[2]: 112  projecting from the medial zone nuclei of the reticular formation to the hypothalamus (to mediate autonomic nervous system response), and the intralaminar thalamic nuclei[2]: 306  (to mediate a startle response to pain[2]: 112 ).

Clinical significance

Lesion of the tract can cause palatal myoclonus, e.g. in myoclonic syndrome, in strokes of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

Additional Images
  • Horizontal section through the lower part of the pons. The central tegmental tract is labeled #16.
    Horizontal section through the lower part of the pons. The central tegmental tract is labeled #16.
  • Tractography showing central tegmental tract
    Tractography showing central tegmental tract

References
  1. Kamali A, Kramer LA, Butler IJ, Hasan KM. Diffusion tensor tractography of the somatosensory system in the human brainstem: initial findings using high isotropic spatial resolution at 3.0 T. Eur Radiol. 2009 19:1480-8. doi: 10.1007/s00330-009-1305-x. PMID 19189108
  2. Patestas, Maria A.; Gartner, Leslie P. (2016). A Textbook of Neuroanatomy (2nd ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-118-67746-9.
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