pontine central gray (CGRpn)

The term pontine central gray refers to a relatively thin layer of cells in the dorsal pontine tegmentum. It forms the floor of the fourth ventricle. Major bounding structures are the medial longitudinal fasciculus of the pons ventrally, the locus ceruleus laterally, and the midline medially. Continuous with the periaqueductal gray rostrally and the central gray of the medulla caudally, it is found in the human ( Paxinos-2012 ), the macaque ( Martin-2000 ), the rat ( Paxinos-2009b ), and the mouse ( Franklin-2008 ). Five small nuclei are embedded in the pontine central gray. Authors differ with regard to the identities of certain of them. All identify four: the dorsal tegmental nucleus, Barrington's nucleus, supragenual nucleus and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus. The fifth for some authors is the lateral tegmental nucleus ( Swanson-2004 ). For others the fifth is the posterodorsal tegmental nucleus ( Paxinos-2012; Paxinos-2009a; Paxinos-2009b; Franklin-2008 ). The pontine central gray and most of the embedded nuclei are included in the functionally defined dorsal pontine gray of Swanson-2004.

Also known as: central gray of the pons, central gray substance of pons, central gray substance of the pons, Substantia grisea centralis, Griseum periventriculare, Griseum centrale pontis, central gray of pons, pontine central gray, central grey of the Pons

NeuroNames ID: 567

All Names & Sources

Showing 14 synonym(s)

Name:

PCG

Language:

acronym

Organism:

mouse

Source:

Hof-2000

Citation:

Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000

Source Title:

Comparative Cytoarchitectonic Atlas of the C57BL/6 and 129/Sv Mouse Brains

Name:

CGPn

Language:

acronym

Organism:

macaque

Source:

Martin-2000

Citation:

Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000

Source Title:

Primate Brain Maps: Structure Of The Macaque Brain

Name:

central gray of the pons

Language:

English

Organism:

mouse

Source:

Paxinos-2001

Citation:

Second Edition, Academic Press, San Diego, 2001

Source Title:

The Mouse Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates

Name:

central gray substance of pons

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

central gray substance of the pons

Language:

English

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Martin-1997

Citation:

Primate Information Center, University of Washington, Seattle, 1997.

Source Title:

Template Atlas of the Primate Brain

Name:

Substantia grisea centralis

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Riley-1943

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1943

Source Title:

An Atlas Of The Basal Ganglia, Brain Stem And Spinal Cord (Based On Myelin-Stained Material)

Name:

Griseum periventriculare

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Shantha-1968

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1968

Source Title:

A Stereotaxic Atlas Of The Java Monkey Brain (Macaca irus)

Name:

Griseum centrale pontis

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca mulatta

Source:

Oertel-1969

Citation:

Journal fuer Hirnforschung 11: pp. 377-405, 1969

Source Title:

Zur zyto- und myeloarchitektonik des Rhombencephalon des Rhesusaffen (Macaca mulatta Zimmerman)

Name:

central gray of pons

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Bowden-1997

Citation:

Source Title:

A digital Rosetta stone for primate brain terminology

Name:

pontine central gray

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Bowden-1997

Citation:

Source Title:

A digital Rosetta stone for primate brain terminology

Name:

central grey of the Pons

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

AIBS-2011

Citation:

Allen Brain Atlas: Data Portal https://atlas.brain-map.org/

Source Title:

Allen Institute for Brain Science

Name:

PCG

Language:

acronym

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-2004

Citation:

Third Edition, Elsevier Academic Press, Oxford, 2004

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain.

Name:

CGPn

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Macaca mulatta

Citation:

Amsterdam: Elsevier-Academic Press. 2009

Source Title:

The Rhesus Monkey Brain, Second Edition

Name:

CGRpn

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Unspecified

Source:

NeuroNames

Citation:

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Source Title:

NeuroNames

Species With The Structure
Equivalent By Human Macaque Rat Mouse
Topology Has The Structure Has The Structure Has The Structure Has The Structure

Showing 8 record(s)

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

central gray substance of pons

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

Substantia grisea centralis

Source:

Riley-1943

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

central gray substance of the pons

Source:

Martin-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

Griseum periventriculare

Source:

Shantha-1968

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

Griseum centrale pontis

Source:

Oertel-1969

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

central gray of pons

Source:

Bowden-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

pontine central gray

Source:

Bowden-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Mus (mouse)

Their Name:

central gray of the pons

Source:

Paxinos-2001

Models Where It Appears
Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

Functional CNS Model - Rat

The Functional CNS Model - Rat (FMrat) ( Swanson-2004) is one of three hierarchical models representing the internal organization of the central nervous system (CNS). The others are the Structural CNS Model - Human (SThmn) and the Functional CNS Model - Human (FMhmn). The FMrat model represents the basic organization of the mouse ( Hof-2000 AMBA-2024 ) and, presumably, other rodents. Functional CNS models differ from structural models in that structures are defined and named by connectivity rather than by proximity to other structures at the same level. Functional models are more useful for representing longitudinal components of are grouped based on information drawn from multiple neuroscientific disciplines. such as connections, neurochemical characteristics, and role in physiogical and behavioral processes. While the Functional Model was developed primarily for an atlas of the rat brain ( Swanson-2004 ), the hierarchical organization of structures is for the most part applicable to the human, macaque, mouse and other mammalian brains as well. Structures at lower levels of the Functional CNS hierarchy are largely the same as in the Classical and Developmental Models, i.e., they were originally identified by stains for gray matter (Nissl substance) and white matter (myelin). At the next higher level they are grouped into basic connectional and functional systems of the CNS, such as the subcortical sensory systems, the brainstem motor system and the behavioral state system. At the highest levels CNS structures are grouped on the basis of dissection and embryologic precursors into cerebrum ( cerebral cortex and cerebral nuclei ), cerebellum, and cerebrospinal trunk.