Point 11 Intro Pathway Deficit Note Clinical Taste Overview Problems Contents Anatomy

Point 11. Nucleus and Tractus Solitarius (Viscerosensory) The cell group in the brain stem that receives VISCEROsensory information is called NUCLEUS SOLITARIUS. This sad, little, lonely nucleus lies lateral to the dorsal motor nucleus X (pregang. parasym. of C.N. X), and next to (and sometimes surrounds, but this is hard to see in our sections) the solitary fasciculus or tract (somewhat similar arrangement as spinal nuc. and tract V eh?). Only a portion of the entire rostrocaudal axis of the solitary complex can be seen in our series of 10 brain stem sections, and this is on level #3. In order to show the rostral and caudal divisions of the solitary complex (which differ functionally), I have taken some artistic license in the drawing below by schematically illustrating the solitary complex as a column extending above (rostral part) and below (caudal part) level #3. I hope this is not confusing.