This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Nucleus ambiguus

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The nucleus ambiguus on each side is a motor nucleus within the medulla of the brainstem. It lies dorsomedial to the spinal lemniscus and ventral to the nucleus of tractus solitarius.

It supplies skeletal muscle fibres via three cranial nerves:

  • glossopharyngeal nerve: stylopharyngeus muscle
  • vagus and cranial root of accessory nerve:
    • pharyngeal branch to the following muscles:
      • levator palati
      • salpingopharyngeus
      • palatopharyngeus
      • palatoglossus
      • all the pharyngeal constrictors
      • striated muscle of the oesophagus
    • superior laryngeal nerve to cricothryroid muscle
  • recurrent laryngeal nerve to intrinsic muscles of the larynx

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.