part of part of dorsal tegmental nucleus reticulotegmental nucleus superior salivatory nucleus pontine nuclear group pontine reticular formation motor nucleus of trigeminal nerve abducens nucleus caudal pontine reticular nucleus BAMS:PnC pontine reticular nucleus caudal part nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis DHBA:12493 UBERON:0002963 FMA:72469 MBA:1093 neuronames:566 pontine reticular nucleus, caudal part Wikipedia:Caudal_pontine_reticular_nucleus The caudal pontine reticular nucleus is composed of gigantocellular neurons. In rabbits and cats it is exclusively giant cells, however in humans there are normally sized cells as well. The pontis caudalis is rostral to the gigantocellular nucleus and is located in the caudal pons, as the name would indicate. The pontis caudalis has been known to mediate head movement, in concert with the nucleus gigantocellularis and the superior colliculus. The neurons in the dorsal half of this nuclei fire rhythmically during mastication, and in an anesthetized animal it is possible to induce mastication via electrical stimulation of the PC or adjacent areas of the gigantocellular nucleus. The pontis caudalis is also thought to play a role in the grinding of teeth during sleep. BIRNLEX:792 BAMS:PRNc HBA:9162 central gray substance of pons facial motor nucleus nucleus of pontine reticular formation Barrington's nucleus