The nucleus of Darkschewitsch is an accessory oculomotor nucleus[1] situated in the ventrolateral portion of the periaqueductal gray of the mesencephalon (midbrain)[2]: 114[3]: 458.e1 near its junction with the diencephalon. It is involved in mediating vertical eye movements.[1] It projects to the trochlear nucleus, receives afferents from the visual cortex, and forms a reciprocal (looping) connection with the cerebellum by way of the inferior olive.

Anatomy

Connections

It receives afferents from the visual association areas (via the corticotectal tract),[2]: 241 vestibular nuclei (via the medial longitudinal fasciculus),[2]: 402 and from the spinomesencephalic tract.[3]: 433.e1

It gives rise to the medial tegmental tract to project efferents to the (rostral portion of) medial accessory olivary nucleus[3]: 458.e1 → ((decussation) inferior cerebellar peduncle → (contralateral) globose nucleus of cerebellum → superior cerebellar peduncle (decussation) → (rostral part of) medial accessory olivary nucleus → (ipsilateral) nucleus of Darkschewitsch[3]: 484).

It projects (directly or indirectly) to the trochlear nucleus.[3]: 457

Relations

It is situated near the oculomotor nucleus.[2]: 321 It is situated just dorsomedial to the interstitial nucleus of Cajal, the medial longitudinal fasciculus, and red nucleus.[3]: 458.e1

References

  1. ^ Kiernan, John A. & Rajakumar, Nagalingam (2013). Barr's The Human Nervous System: An Anatomical Viewpoint. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-4511-7327-7.
  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.
  3. ^ Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42th ed. New York: Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621