The cochlear nuclei are the first relay of the hearing pathway in the brainstem. They wrap around the inferior cerebellar peduncle at the junction of the pons and medulla and receive every fibre of the cochlear nerve. From here auditory signals travel to both sides of the brainstem.
| Location | Lateral surface of the pontomedullary junction, draped over the inferior cerebellar peduncle |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (labyrinthine territory region) |
Begin analysis of sound frequency, timing and intensity and distribute auditory information to both sides of the brainstem.
Because pathways cross above the cochlear nuclei, a lesion here or of the cochlear nerve is the only central brainstem lesion that causes deafness in one ear. AICA strokes can cause sudden one-sided hearing loss with vertigo. Auditory brainstem implants are placed on the cochlear nucleus surface in people who have lost both cochlear nerves, for example in neurofibromatosis type 2.
Sudden one-sided deafness with vertigo and facial weakness from infarction in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory.
A tumour of the vestibular nerve in the cerebellopontine angle that can compress the cochlear nerve and nuclei, causing progressive hearing loss and tinnitus.
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