Lateral Lemniscus Formation

Structure: < Click on image >

Lateral Lemniscus Formation. There are many brainstem nuclei that contribute to auditory processing. A simplifed view of the formation of the lateral lemniscus is shown here. The monaural path (yellow line) from the dorsal cochlear nucleus projects to the contralateral side. The ventral cochlear nuclei project (black line) to the superior olivary nuclei on both sides as well as into the lateral lemniscus on each side. Thus the lateral lemniscus contains axons originating from cells in the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei and in the superior olivary nucleus (white). The lateral lemniscus terminates in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus.