trapezoid body


trap·e·zoid bod·y

[TA] a plate of transverse fibers running over the posterior (deep) border of the pontine nuclei; it is formed by ascending auditory fibers that cross to the opposite side of the brainstem. Synonym(s): corpus trapezoideum [TA], trapezoid (4) [TA]

trapezoid body

A transverse sheet of secondary sensory axons that originate in the cochlear nuclei and that cross the midline just dorsal to the pons in the rostral hindbrain. About half of the cochlear axons remain ipsilateral and ascend toward the inferior colliculus via the lateral lemniscus. Those cochlear axons that cross the cross the midline in the trapezoid body also join the (contralateral) lateral lemniscus and run toward the inferior colliculus. See also: body

trapezoid body

A transverse sheet of secondary sensory axons that originate in the cochlear nuclei and that cross the midline just dorsal to the pons in the rostral hindbrain. About half of the cochlear axons remain ipsilateral and ascend toward the inferior colliculus via the lateral lemniscus. Those cochlear axons that cross the cross the midline in the trapezoid body also join the (contralateral) lateral lemniscus and run toward the inferior colliculus.