facial motor nucleus


fa·cial nu·cle·us

a group of motor neurons located in the anterolateral region of the lower pontine tegmentum and innervating the muscles of facial expression, the stapedius muscle in the middle ear, the posterior belly of the musculus digastricus, and the stylohyoid muscle. Synonym(s): motor nucleus of facial nerve [TA], nucleus nervi facialis [TA], facial motor nucleus, nucleus facialis

facial motor nucleus

A nucleus of the branchial motor column in the pontine region of the hindbrain. This nucleus is a column of cholinergic neurons in the ventrolateral tegmentum. It is the origin of motor axons in the facial nerve (CN VII), which innervate the muscles of facial expression. See also: nucleus