The brainstem is made up of three sections, and carries vital information to the body.
The pons relays information about motor function, sensation, eye movement, hearing, taste, and more.
What Is the Function of the Pons?
The main functions of the pons deal with sensation and motor function, especially for the head and neck.
Four of the body’s12 cranial nervesare in the pons, as well as the reticular activating system.
Thecranial nervesthat arise from the pons focus on motor responses, and eye and facial movement.
Cranial nerve six: Theabducens nervecontrols eye movement.
Cranial nerve seven: Thefacial nervecontrols most of the muscles and sensation in the face.
Cranial nerve eight: Thevestibulocochlear nerveis responsible for hearing, but also helps to control balance and movement.
The brainstem includes three piecesthemidbrain, pons, andmedulla oblongata.
Each piece plays a different role, relaying messages from the brain to the rest of the body.
Associated Conditions
Injury can occur to the pons from trauma or other injury to the brainstem.
An injury to the pons wouldimpair the cranial nerve functionsassociated with this part of the brain stem.
You could experience damage to facial sensation, eye movement, hearing, taste, and more.
One example of an injury to the pons is thepontine stroke.
Other conditions, such as tumors ordemyelinating disease, can also affect the pons.
Damage to specific parts of the pons can result in a number of syndromes includinglocked-in syndrome.
Summary
The pons is one of three parts of the brainstem.
Its functions include sensation and motor function, especially in the head and neck.
Four of the 12 cranial nerves are present in the pons, as well as the reticular activating system.
Damage to the pons can be assessed using functional tests and scans.
Arguinchona JH, Tadi P.Neuroanatomy, reticular activating system.
Haines DE, Mihailoff GA.Chapter 10: An overview of the brainstem.
in:Fundamental Neuroscience for Basic and Clinical Applications.
2018:152-159. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-39632-5.00010-4
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Anatomy of the brain.
Rahman M, Tadi P.Neuroanatomy, pons.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Locked in syndrome.
2014;27(1):25-30. doi:10.1002/ca.22336
