The solitary nucleus (SN) ( nucleus of the solitary tract, nucleus solitarius, or nucleus tractus solitarii) is a series of whose cell bodies form a roughly vertical column of grey matter in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem. Their axons form the bulk of the enclosed solitary tract. The solitary nucleus can be divided into different parts including dorsomedial, dorsolateral, and ventrolateral subnuclei.
The solitary nucleus receives general visceral and special visceral inputs from the facial nerve (CN VII), glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) and vagus nerve (CN X); it receives and relays stimuli related to taste and visceral sensation. It sends outputs to various parts of the brain, such as the hypothalamus, thalamus, and reticular formation, forming circuits that contribute to autonomic regulation.
Cells along the length of the SN are arranged roughly in accordance with function; for instance, cells involved in taste are located in the rostral part, while those receiving information from cardio-respiratory and gastrointestinal processes are found in the caudal part.
Anatomy
The solitary nucleus is a series of
in the medulla oblongata. Their cell bodies form a roughly vertical column of
grey matter in the medulla oblongata. Their
form an enclosed
nerve tract called the
solitary tract.
Viscerotopic organization
Neurons of the SN are notably functionally arranged roughly length-wise along the nucleus: gustatory neurons are situated rostrally (with afferents from the anterior part of the tongue and roof of oral cavity rostral-most, and those from the larynx and epiglottis more caudally placed); gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory neurons are situated more caudally. However, some localization/organization also occurs along the ventro-dorsal and medio-lateral axes.
Afferents
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Gustatory (taste) sensation from Facial nerve via the chorda tympani (from anterior 2/3 of tongue), glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) (from posterior 1/3 of tongue), and Vagus nerve (from epiglottis).
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Chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors of the general visceral afferent pathway (GVA) from the carotid body and carotid sinus via (the carotid sinus nerve of) CN IX; from Aortic body and aortic arch via CN X.
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Chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors of the general visceral afferent pathway (GVA) with endings located in the heart, lungs, airways, gastrointestinal system, pharynx, and liver via the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Organ specific regions of neuronal architecture are preserved in the solitary nucleus.
Non-sensory afferent projections include:
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medial zone of hypothalamus → dorsal longitudinal fasciculus → periaqueductal gray → autonomic input of solitary nucleus
Efferents
The solitary nucleus projects to numerous regions of the CNS, including:
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thalamus (mediates autonomic responses,
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paraventricular nucleus of
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reticular formation (mediates autonomic responses)
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parasympathetic preganglionic neurons (for autonomic responses)
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central nucleus of the amygdala
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parabrachial area
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locus coeruleus
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dorsal raphe nucleus
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solitariospinal tract → upper levels of spinal cord
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other visceral motor or respiratory centers
The SN projects to multiple other cranial nerve nuclei:
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salivatory nuclei
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hypoglossal nucleus
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dorsal nucleus of vagus nerve
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nucleus ambiguus (to mediate gag reflex)
Function
Afferents of the SN mediate the
gag reflex, the
carotid sinus reflex, the aortic reflex, the
cough reflex, the
baroreflex and chemoreceptor reflexes, several respiratory reflexes, the
belch reflex, and other reflexes within the gastrointestinal system that regulate
motility and secretion.
Neurons which transmit signals about the gut wall, the stretch of the lungs, and the dryness of also innervate the SN. The first central neurons within the SN can participate in simple autonomic reflexes.
Gag reflex arc
The afferent limb of the
gag reflex Reflex arc is conveyed by sensory afferents of the CN IX which terminate in the SN; the SN then projects to the
nucleus ambiguus which in turn gives rise to motor efferent fibers of the CN IX/X which then mediate the efferent limb of the arc.
==Additional images==
External links
