Cranial nerve nuclei of the brainstem are shown. Affferent nuclei (interneurons and projection neurons) are shown on the left side. Efferent nuclei (alpha, gamma, or preganglionic neurons) are shown on the right.

GSA fibers travel in the trigeminal nerve and synapse in the nuclei colored red. GVA fibers synapse in the nucleus of the solitary tract (orange).

Cranial nerves receive efferent axons from two sets of SE cell columns (labeled blue). The VE cell column is labeled green.

Click to see a comparison of cell columns in the spinal and brainstem.

Click to see additional views of cranial nerve nuclei.