Edinger-Westphal nucleus 2062028 219773846 2008-06-16T20:38:50Z Arcadian 104523 nav {{Infobox Brain| Name = Edinger-Westphal nucleus | Latin = nuclei accessorii nervi oculomotorii | GraySubject = | GrayPage = | Image = cn3nucleus.png | Caption = Section through superior colliculus (unlabeled) showing path of [[oculomotor nerve]]. ("Edinger-Westphal nucleus" is not on diagram, but would be near oculomotor nuclei.) | Image2 = Gray762.png | Caption2 = Figure showing the different groups of cells, which constitute, according to Perlia, the nucleus of origin of the oculomotor nerve.<BR>1. Posterior dorsal nucleus.<BR>1’. Posterior ventral nucleus.<BR>2. Anterior dorsal nucleus.<BR>2’. Anterior ventral nucleus.<BR>3. Central nucleus.<BR>4. '''Nucleus of Edinger and Westphal'''.<BR>5. Antero-internal nucleus.<BR>6. Antero-external nucleus.<BR>8. Crossed fibers.<BR>9. [[Trochlear nerve]], with 9’, its nucleus of origin, and 9", its [[decussation]].<BR>10. [[Third ventricle]].<BR>M, M. Median line. | IsPartOf = | Components = | Artery = | Vein = | BrainInfoType = hier | BrainInfoNumber = 489 | MeshName = | MeshNumber = | DorlandsPre = n_11 | DorlandsSuf = 12580082 | }} The '''Edinger-Westphal nucleus''' (also known as the '''accessory oculomotor nucleus ''') is the accessory [[parasympathetic nervous system|parasympathetic]] [[cranial nerve nucleus]] of the [[oculomotor nerve]] ([[cranial nerve]] III), supplying the constricting [[muscle]]s of the [[Iris (anatomy)|iris]]. ==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]], [[constriction|constricting]] the [[pupil]] and [[accommodation reflex|accommodating]] the [[Lens (anatomy)|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.<ref>{{WhoNamedIt|synd|893}}</ref> ==See also== * [[General visceral efferent fibers]] ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Gray696.png|The cranial nerve nuclei schematically represented; dorsal view. Motor nuclei in red; sensory in blue. Image:Gray697.png|Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view. Image:Gray698.png|Primary terminal nuclei of the afferent (sensory) cranial nerves schematically represented; lateral view. </gallery> ==References== <references/> ==External links== * {{GPnotebook|-248184792}} * [https://www1.columbia.edu/sec/itc/hs/medical/anatomy_resources/anatomy/lecture6/lecture6_files/Slide0009.gif Diagram at Columbia] * {{BrainMaps|Edinger-Westphal%20nucleus|Edinger-Westphal nucleus}} * {{LoyolaMedEd|Neuro/frames/nlBSs/nl18fr.htm}} * {{YaleCranialNerves|3|12}} {{Mesencephalon}} {{Cranial nerves}} {{Visual system}} {{neuroanatomy-stub}} {{eye-stub}} [[Category:Neuroanatomy]] [[de:Edinger-Westphal-Kern]] [[nl:Kern van Edinger-Westphal]] [[pl:Jądro Edingera-Westphala]]