Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 372, Issue 2, 7 May 1986, Pages 375-381
Brain Research

The distribution of muscle primary afferents from the masseter nerve to the trigeminal sensory nuclei

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(86)91148-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin conjugate was used to study the pattern of termination of somatic afferent fibers innervating the masseter muscle within the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex (TSNC) of the cat. The central processes of the masseteric nerve terminated in the caudal third of the pars interpolaris, and laminae I/V through the caudal two-thirds of caudalis and rostral parts of the C1 spinal cord segment. The functional significance of the masseteric afferent projections to the TSNC with a preferential pattern was discussed, particularly with respect to muscle pain.

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