Edinger Westphal Nucleus is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
The Edinger-Westphal Nucleus (EW) is a parasympathetic cranial nerve nucleus located in the midbrain. It provides parasympathetic innervation to the eye via the oculomotor nerve (CN III), controlling pupil constriction and lens accommodation. [1]
Key features include: [2]
This nucleus is affected in various conditions including oculomotor palsies, Holmes-Adie syndrome, and neurodegenerative diseases affecting brainstem function. [3]
The Edinger-Westphal Nucleus (EWN) provides parasympathetic input to the eye, controlling pupillary constriction and lens accommodation. [4]
| Taxonomy | ID | Name / Label |
|---|
| Property | Value | [5]
|----------|-------| [6]
| Cell Type Name | Edinger-Westphal Nucleus Neurons | [7]
| Neurotransmitter | Acetylcholine |
| Brain Region | Midbrain (oculomotor complex) |
| Lineage | Parasympathetic preganglionic |
The EWN contains preganglionic parasympathetic neurons:
Key marker genes:
The EWN controls eye functions:
Key genes:
The study of Edinger Westphal Nucleus has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
The Edinger-Westphal Nucleus (EW) is implicated in several neurological and ophthalmological conditions:
The EW is a therapeutic target:
Akert K, Glickstein M. The Edinger-Westphal nucleus. 1999. ↩︎ ↩︎
May PJ, Sun W, Erichsen JT. Defining the pupillary component. 2008. ↩︎ ↩︎
Sillito AM. The contribution of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus to visual information processing. 1984. ↩︎ ↩︎
Kourouyan HD, Horton JC. Transneuronal retinal input to the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. 1997. ↩︎ ↩︎
Warwick R. The ocular parasympathetic nerve supply. 1954. ↩︎ ↩︎
Cuthbertson S. Edinger-Westphal nucleus: a review. 1994. ↩︎ ↩︎
Burde RM. The primate Edinger-Westphal nucleus. 1968. ↩︎