The central projections of the trigeminal, facial and anterior lateral line nerves in the carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

The central projections of the trigeminal, facial and anterior lateral line nerves were studied in the carp (Cyprinus carpio) by the Nauta and Fink-Heimer silver techniques following rhizotomy. Degenerating trigeminal fibers were found projecting on the nucleus of the descending trigeminal root and on the medial funicular nucleus. The former can be subdivided in five portions lying dorsal to the various cranial motor nuclei. The afferent facial fibers could be traced into the facial, glossopharyngeal and vagal lobes, while the anterior lateral line nerve projects on rostral, medial and caudal parts of the medial nucleus and on the eminentia granularis. The anterior lateral line nerve can be divided into a dorsal and a ventral root, each following the same course. The role trigeminal and facial nerves play in proprioception of respiratory muscles is discussed.