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