Oral part of spinal trigeminal nucleus

The oral part of spinal trigeminal nucleus is the most rostral section of this nucleus, extending into the tegmentum of the pons. It receives pain and temperature information from near the midline of the face, encompassing the oral and nasal regions.

To fully grasp the concept, it is important to understand that the spinal trigeminal nucleus and the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve are somatotopically organized in a top-to-bottom manner. In this somatotopic arrangement within the spinal nucleus, the central or perioral areas are represented more rostrally, or at the top of the nucleus. As we move to more lateral areas, which are further from the mouth, they are represented more caudally, or further down within the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. This somatotopic organization divides the spinal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve into three subparts from rostral to caudal: the oral, interpolar, and caudal parts.