| Interstitial nucleus of Cajal | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| System | Oculomotor system |
| Location | Midbrain |
| Function | Head-eye movement coordination (especially vertical gaze) |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
Theinterstitial nucleus of Cajal is a collection of neurons in themesencephalon (midbrain) which are involved in integrating eye position-velocity information in order to coordinate head-eye movements - especially those related to vertical and torsional conjugate eye movements (gaze). It also mediates vertical gaze holding.
Bilateral projections to theoculomotor (cranial nerve III) andtrochlear (cranial nerve IV) nuclei represent its principal outputs. It forms reciprocal connections withvestibular nuclei. It also has additional afferents and efferents. Some of the nucleus' connections pass through themedial longitudinal fasciculus, and theposterior commissure.
It is one of theaccessory oculomotor nuclei.[1]: 156 [2]: 241 [3]: 458.e1
The interstitial nucleus of Cajal is a diffuse collection of mid-sized,parvalbumin-containing premotor neurons of themidbrain reticular formation.[3]: 458.e1
The nucleus forms reciprocal connections with the vestibular nuclei (through the MLF). It forms connections with the ipsilateralrostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus.[3]: 458.e1 Some of its contralateral connections cross over theposterior commissure.[3]: 502
It receives afferents (in fact, forms reciprocal connections) with the vestibular nuclei (via the MLF), and thenucleus prepositus hypoglossi.[3]: 458.e1
It receives afferents from the spinal cord through thespinomesencephalic tract.[3]: 458.e1
It receives afferents from thevisual association areas via thecorticotectal tract.[2]: 241
It projects bilaterally to theoculomotor (cranial nerve III) nucleus, andtrochlear (cranial nerve IV) nucleus; these are the nucleus' major efferents.[3]: 458.e1
It projects descending efferents through themedial longitudinal fasciculus to (all levels of) the spinal cord (via theinterstitiospinal tract), the ipsilateralsuperior andmedial vestibular nuclei, thenucleus prepositus hypoglossi, and reticular formation.[3]: 458.e1
It is situated in the dorsomedial portion of the rostralmesencephalictegmentum[3]: 458.e1 near its junction with thediencephalon,[1] in between the (midline)periaqueductal gray and (ipsilateral)red nucleus,[3]: 458.e1 near theoculomotor nucleus,[2]: 321-322 caudal to therostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus, and ventrolateral to thenucleus of Darkschewitsch. Its neurons are situated lateral to - as well as scattered among the fibers of - themedial longitudinal fasciculus.[3]: 458.e1 It is situated at the rostral extremity of themedial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF).[3]: 451
The nucleus is one of the accessory oculomotor nuclei. It conciliates information regarding eye position and eye velocity in order to coordinate head-eye movements - especially those related to vertical and torsional/oblique gaze.[3]: 458.e1 "Tonic" neurons within[1]: 122 [3]: 778 and around[3]: 778 the interstitial nucleus of Cajal mediate vertical gaze holding[1]: 122 [3]: 778 (whereas "burst" neurons of theriMLF mediate vertical saccades[1]: 122 ).