

above the level of the cochlear nucleus) will not lead to serious hearing impairment. This is important because supranuclear lesions (i.e. For that reason, information from both ears travels bilaterally in each lateral lemniscus. In summary, in both the dorsal and ventral nuclei, some fibres decussate while others do not. It also projects upwards through the lateral lemniscus. The superior olivary nucleus is located just next to the trapezoid body. Although the ventral cochlear nuclei neurons decussate at the trapezoid body, some fibres synapse at the ipsilateral superior olivary nucleus. However, most fibres from the ventral cochlear nucleus decussate to the contralateral superior olivary nuclei in a region known as the trapezoid body. Other fibres ascend in the ipsilateral lateral lemniscus.įrom the ventral cochlear nucleus, some fibres also ascend in the lateral lemniscus bilaterally. It forms a small bulge on the surface of the brainstem – known as the auditory tubercle.įrom the dorsal cochlear nucleus, most fibres cross the midline and ascend in the contralateral lateral lemniscus.


Their central axons form the main component of the cochlear nerve. These neurones receive information from hair cells in the Organ of Corti and travel within the osseous spiral lamina. The spiral ganglion houses the cell bodies of the first order neurons (ganglion refers to a collection of cell bodies outside the central nervous system).
