pontine nucleus

The pontine nucleus is a part of the pons, a structure within the brainstem. The pons is located above the medulla oblongata and below the cerebellum. It is characterized by transverse nerve fibers that connect the medulla to the cerebellum. The pontine nuclei are masses of neurons within the pons that receive input from the cerebral cortex and project to the opposite hemisphere of the cerebellum, acting as a bridge between these two brain regions. The pons also plays a role in regulating breathing and is involved in rapid eye movement sleep.12