auditory-system

SOUND travels along

the auditory nerve,

to parts of the brainstem :

cochlear nucleus

located at the dorso-lateral side

of the brainstem,

spanning the junction

of the pons and medulla:

the first location of neuronal processing

from the inner ear.

It then travels to the

superior olivary complex

located in the pons ,

then to the inferior colliculi

of the midbrain,

Then reaching the thalamus,

then to the cortex.

The primary auditory cortex

is found in the

temporal lobe.

COPYRIGHT ld 2003

BECAUSE OUR EARS CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THE BRAINSTEM SOUND AFFECTS THE

SYSTEMS OF HOMEOSTASIS

THROUGH IT'S SHARED PATHWAYS WITH THE HYPOTHALAMUS

I_A_M_KEY

reaches these

CORE STRUCTURES

and triggers their alignment with

NATURE'S KEY TO HEALING

AND OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE.

EARS: SUB CORTICAL AUDITORY PATHWAY

cochlear nucleus

superior olivary nucleus

INFERIOR COLLICULUS

RETICULAR FORMATION

cerebellum

diencephalon

THALAMUS

cortex

BRAINSTEM: HYPOTHALAMIC PATHWAY

anterior commissure

AMYGDALA

anterior THALAMIC nuclei

cortex of cingulate gyrus

dorsal tegmental nucleus

cortex of frontal lobe

globus pallidus

THALAMUS

HIPPOCAMPAL gyrus

INFERIOR COLLICULUS

mammillary nuclei-

dorsal medial THALAMIC nucleus

medial forebrain bundle

olfactory bulb

optic chiasm

posterior commissure

pituitary gland

paraventricular nucleus

pyriform cortex

RETICULAR FORMATION

superior colliculus

septal nuclei

The main function of pons is to act as a highway for relay

of many signals to and from the cerebrum and the cerebellum.

This is the center that acts

as the point of origin for various nerves in the body, including the important cranial nerves.

The Vestibulocochlear nerve is a sensory nerve which has two parts - the cochlear portion,

which is involved with transmission

of sound from the ear to the brain.

The other part is the vestibular portion, which transmits information from the inner ear and helps in maintaining balance and coordination.

The primary function of pons is also to act as a motor relay center.

Many of the descending nerve fibers

of various tracts synapse

in the region of the pons.