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Information about Nucleus Ambiguus

Brain:
Transverse section of medulla oblongata below the middle of the olive. ("Nucleus ambiguus" labeled at center right.)
subject #187 779
NeuroNameshier-762
Dorlands/Elsevier n_11/12580164
The nucleus ambiguus (literally "ambiguous nucleus") is a region of histologically disparate cells located just dorsal (posterior) to the inferior olivary nucleus in the lateral portion of the upper (rostral) medulla.

This nucleus gives rise to the efferent motor fibers of the vagus nerve (CN X) terminating in the laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles, as well as to the efferent motor fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) terminating in the stylopharyngeus.

Areas supplied

The muscles supplied by the vagus (included with this is the cranial part of the accessory nerve), such as levator veli palatini, are also necessary to swallow properly. The vagus also supplies the upper part of the esophagus, and other parts of the pharynx and larynx.

As well as motor functions, nucleus ambiguus also contains the preganglionic neurons for the heart.

Additional images


Section of the medulla oblongata at about the middle of the olive.

The cranial nerve nuclei schematically represented; dorsal view. Motor nuclei in red; sensory in blue.

Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view.

Primary terminal nuclei of the afferent (sensory) cranial nerves schematically represented; lateral view.

The formatio reticularis of the medulla oblongata, shown by a transverse section passing through the middle of the olive.


External links

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Brain: rhombencephalon (hindbrain)
Myelencephalon/medulla
anterior/ventral: Arcuate nucleus of medulla • Pyramid (Decussation) • Olivary body • Inferior olivary nucleus • Anterior median fissure • Ventral respiratory group posterior/dorsal: VII,IX,X: Solitary/tract • XII, X: Dorsal • IX,X,XI: Ambiguus • IX: Inferior salivatory nucleus • Gracile nucleus/Cuneate nucleus/Accessory cuneate nucleus • Area postrema • Posterior median sulcus • Dorsal respiratory group raphe/reticular: Sensory decussation • Reticular formation (Gigantocellular nucleus, Parvocellular reticular nucleus, Ventral reticular nucleus, Lateral reticular nucleus, Paramedian reticular nucleus) • Raphe nuclei (Obscurus, Magnus, Pallidus) tracts: Corticospinal tract (Lateral, Anterior) • Inferior cerebellar peduncle • Olivocerebellar tract • Spinocerebellar (Dorsal, Ventral) • Spinothalamic tract • PCML (Posterior external arcuate fibers, Internal arcuate fibers, Medial lemniscus) • Extrapyramidal (Rubrospinal tract, Vestibulospinal tract, Tectospinal tract)
Metencephalon/pons
Metencephalon/cerebellumVermis • Flocculus • Arbor vitae • Cerebellar tonsil • Inferior medullary velum
Molecular layer (Stellate cell, Basket cell, Parallel fiber) • Purkinje cell layer (Purkinje cell) • Granule cell layer (Golgi cell) • Mossy fibers • Climbing fiber
Deep cerebellar nuclei (Dentate, Emboliform, Globose, Fastigial)
Fourth ventricleapertures (Median, Lateral) • Rhomboid fossa (Vagal trigone, Hypoglossal trigone, Obex, Sulcus limitans, Facial colliculus, Medial eminence) • Lateral recess
Transverse may refer to:
  • Transversality, a concept related to the intersection of manifolds in topology
  • Transverse City, an album by Warren Zevon

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The medulla oblongata is the lower portion of the brainstem.

Location

By anatomical terms of location, it is rostral to the spinal cord and caudal to the pons, which is in turn ventral to the cerebellum.
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NeuroNames is a system of nomenclature for the human and/or macaque brain.

It is maintained by the University of Washington and is a part of a tool called "BrainInfo". BrainInfo helps one identify structures in the brain.
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Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has substantial operations in the UK, USA and elsewhere.
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Histology (from the Greek ἱστός) is the study of tissue sectioned as a thin slice, using a microtome. It can be described as microscopic anatomy.
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In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals (like humans) that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone.
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The inferior olivary nucleus is the largest nucleus situated in the olivary body, part of the medulla oblongata.

It consists of a gray folded lamina arranged in the form of an incomplete capsule, opening medially by an aperture called the hilum.
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Rostral can refer to:
  • Anatomical location or direction, front, as opposed to caudal (rear).
  • Rostral bone.
  • Rostral scale in scaled reptiles.

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The medulla oblongata is the lower portion of the brainstem.

Location

By anatomical terms of location, it is rostral to the spinal cord and caudal to the pons, which is in turn ventral to the cerebellum.
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Efferent can refer to:
  • Efferent nerve
  • Efferent ducts
  • Efferent arteriole
  • Efferent lymphatic vessel

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The vagus nerve (also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X) is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves, and is the only nerve that starts in the brainstem (within the medulla oblongata) and extends, through the jugular foramen, down below the head, to the
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Cranial nerves are nerves that emerge directly from the brain in contrast to spinal nerves which emerge from segments of the spinal cord. Although thirteen cranial nerves in humans fit this description, twelve are conventionally recognized.
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The larynx (plural larynges), colloquially known as the voicebox, is an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protection of the trachea and sound production.
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The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the neck and throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and cranial, or superior, to the esophagus, larynx, and trachea.
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The glossopharyngeal nerve is the ninth of twelve pairs of cranial nerves. It exits the brainstem out from the sides of the upper medulla, just rostral (closer to the nose) to the vagus nerve.
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The stylopharyngeus is a muscle in the head that stretches between the styloid process and the pharynx.

Structure

The stylopharyngeus is a long, slender muscle, cylindrical above, flattened below.
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The vagus nerve (also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X) is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves, and is the only nerve that starts in the brainstem (within the medulla oblongata) and extends, through the jugular foramen, down below the head, to the
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In anatomy, the accessory nerve is a nerve that controls specific muscles of the neck. As a part of it is traditionally believed to originate in the brain, it is considered a cranial nerve.
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The levator veli palatini is a muscle of the human body. During swallowing, it contracts, elevating the soft palate to help prevent food from entering the nasopharynx. It is innervated via the pharyngeal plexus, primarily by the vagus nerve (CN X).
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The esophagus (also spelled oesophagus/œsophagus, Greek οἰσοφάγος), or gullet
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The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the neck and throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and cranial, or superior, to the esophagus, larynx, and trachea.
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The larynx (plural larynges), colloquially known as the voicebox, is an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protection of the trachea and sound production.
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heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in the annelids, mollusks, and arthropods.
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GPnotebook is a British medical database for general practitioners (GPs).[1] It is an online encyclopaedia of medicine that provides an immediate reference resource for clinicians worldwide. The database consists of over 30,000 pages of information.
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In animals, the brain or encephalon (Greek for "in the skull"), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. The brain is located in the head, protected by the skull and close to the primary sensory apparatus of vision, hearing,
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The rhombencephalon (or hindbrain) is a developmental categorization of portions of the central nervous system in vertebrates.

The rhombencephalon can be subdivided in a variable number of transversal swellings called rhombomeres.
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The myelencephalon is a developmental categorization of a portion of the central nervous system. The myelencephalon is composed of the medulla oblongata; contains a portion of the fourth ventricle; as well as the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), vagus nerve (CN X), accessory nerve
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The medulla oblongata is the lower portion of the brainstem.

Location

By anatomical terms of location, it is rostral to the spinal cord and caudal to the pons, which is in turn ventral to the cerebellum.
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arcuate nucleus is a group of neurons located on the anterior surface of the medullary pyramids. They receive fibers from the corticospinal tract and send their axons through the external arcuate fibers and striae medullares to the cerebellum via the inferior cerebellar peduncle.
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