An autoradiographic study of the spinofacial projection in the monkey.

The spinofacial projection was revealed using anterograde transport of radioactively labeled protein in the monkey. The projection arises from cells in the lateral part of the spinal dorsal horn (i.e. the lateral part of lamina V of Rexed) at the upper cervical cord, mainly C1 segment, ascends in the medial or ventromedial part of the anterior funiculus after crossing the anterior white commissure, then courses through the dorsolateral part of the inferior olivary complex. Finally, it terminates within the medial parts of the facial nuclei bilaterally, with the cells from the side ipsilateral to the injection contributing more heavily. Some fibers of this projection cross initially at spinal levels and recross again at levels through the rostral medulla and caudal pons.