ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION OF THE TRIGEMINAL MESENCEPHALIC NUCLEUS

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Abstract
Three types of units were observed in the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus: (1) those innervating muscle spindles of the masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid muscles, (2) those innervating dental pressure receptors of a single tooth, and (3) those innervating dental pressure receptors of two or more adjacent teeth, and in some cases contiguous gingival areas. Muscle-spindle afferents from each of the muscles mentioned were observed throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus. The tooth pressure receptor units innervating several teeth were all located in the caudal half of the nucleus. Most of the units innervating single teeth were located within 2 mm. on either side of the Horsley-Clark zero coronal plane. All cells were activated solely from homolateral fields.