External configuration

Cerebral peduncles

  • Large cylindrical trunks between the pons and the diencephalon
  • Anterior surface
    • Convex on a horizontal plane
    • The superior cerebellar artery and the posterior cerebral artery run on both sides of their lower section
    • Superior boundary: optic tracts
  • Lateral surface
    • Convex
    • Lateral groove
      origin: between the superior and middle cerebellar peduncles
    • Crossed by the IVth cranial nerve
  • Medial surface
    • o Free only in its anterior part, where the oculomotor nerve (III) emerges
    • o Interpeduncular fossa: between the free parts of the medial surfaces

Tectal lamina