Edinger-Westphal

Edinger-Westphal nucleus

Brain: Edinger-Westphal nucleus

Section through superior colliculus (unlabeled) showing path of oculomotor nerve. ("Edinger-Westphal nucleus" is not on diagram, but would be near oculomotor nuclei.)

Figure showing the different groups of cells, which constitute, according to Perlia, the nucleus of origin of the oculomotor nerve.
1. Posterior dorsal nucleus.
1’. Posterior ventral nucleus.
2. Anterior dorsal nucleus.
2’. Anterior ventral nucleus.
3. Central nucleus.
4. Nucleus of Edinger and Westphal.
5. Antero-internal nucleus.
6. Antero-external nucleus.
8. Crossed fibers.
9. Trochlear nerve, with 9’, its nucleus of origin, and 9", its decussation.
10. Third ventricle.
M, M. Median line.

Latin nuclei accessorii nervi oculomotorii

NeuroNames hier-489

Dorlands/Elsevier n_11/12580082

The Edinger-Westphal nucleus (also known as the accessory oculomotor nucleus ) is the accessory parasympathetic cranial nerve nucleus of the oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III), supplying the constricting muscles of the iris.

1 Location
2 Function
3 Eponym
4 See also
5 Additional images
6 References
7 External links

Location

The paired nuclei are posterior to the main motor nucleus (oculomotor nucleus) and anterolateral to the cerebral aqueduct in the rostral midbrain at the level of the superior colliculus.

It is the most rostral of the parasympathetic nuclei in the brain stem.

Function

The Edinger-Westphal nucleus supplies preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the eye, constricting the pupil and accommodating the lens.

Eponym

The nucleus is named for both Ludwig Edinger, who demonstrated it in the fetus in 1885, and for Karl Friedrich Otto Westphal, who demonstrated it in the adult in 1887.^[1]

Additional images

The cranial nerve nuclei schematically represented; dorsal view. Motor nuclei in red; sensory in blue.

Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view.

Primary terminal nuclei of the afferent (sensory) cranial nerves schematically represented; lateral view.

References

^ synd/893 at Who Named It

External links

v • d • e

Brain: mesencephalon (midbrain)

Tectum (Dorsal)

Corpora quadrigemina: Inferior colliculi (Brachium of inferior colliculus), Superior colliculi (Brachium of superior colliculus)
Subcommissural organ • Pretectum

Peduncle (Ventral)

Peduncle tegmentum	Periaqueductal gray (Cerebral aqueduct, Dorsal raphe nucleus) Ventral tegmentum • Pedunculopontine nucleus • Red nucleus (Rubrospinal tract, Rubro-olivary tract) • MLF (riMLF) • lemnisci (Medial, Lateral) cranial nuclei: GSA (V: Mesencephalic) - GSE (III: Oculomotor, IV: Trochlear) - GVE (III: Edinger-Westphal) Interstitial cell of Cajal Superior cerebellar peduncles (Decussation of superior cerebellar peduncle)

Peduncle base	Substantia nigra (Pars compacta, Pars reticulata) Cerebral crus: Corticospinal tract - Corticobulbar tract - Corticopontine tract/Frontopontine fibers/Temporopontine fibers Interpeduncular fossa

v • d • e

Nerves of head and neck: the cranial nerves and nuclei

olfactory (AON->I)

olfactory bulb - olfactory tract

optic (LGN->II)

optic chiasm - optic tract

oculomotor (ON,EWN->III)

superior branch (parasympathetic root of ciliary ganglion/ciliary ganglion) - inferior branch

trochlear (TN->IV)

no significant branches

trigeminal (PSN,TSN,MN,TMN->V)

trigeminal ganglion • ophthalmic • maxillary • mandibular

abducens (AN->VI)

no significant branches

facial (FMN,SN,SSN->VII)

near origin	nervus intermedius • geniculate

inside facial canal	greater petrosal (pterygopalatine ganglion) - nerve to the stapedius - chorda tympani (lingual nerve, submandibular ganglion)

at stylomastoid foramen	posterior auricular - suprahyoid (digastric, stylohyoid) - parotid plexus (temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, cervical)

vestibulocochlear (VN,CN->VIII)

cochlear (striae medullares, lateral lemniscus) • vestibular (Scarpa's ganglion)

glossopharyngeal (NA,ISN,SN->IX)

before jugular fossa	ganglia (superior, inferior)

after jugular fossa	tympanic (tympanic plexus, lesser petrosal, otic ganglion) • stylopharyngeal branch • pharyngeal branches • tonsillar branches • lingual branches • carotid sinus

vagus (NA,DNVN,SN->X)

before jugular fossa	ganglia (superior, inferior)

after jugular fossa	meningeal branch - auricular branch

neck	pharyngeal branch (pharyngeal plexus) - superior laryngeal (external, internal) - recurrent laryngeal (inferior) - superior cervical cardiac

thorax	inferior cardiac - pulmonary - vagal trunks (anterior, posterior)

abdomen	celiac - renal - hepatic - anterior gastric - posterior gastric

accessory (NA,SAN->XI)

cranial - spinal

hypoglossal (HN->XII)

lingual branches

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