Do you really know about this little 'pons' in your brain? Let's talk about it!

We all talk about the big organs in our bodies, right? Like the heart, lungs, kidneys. But have you ever thought about how important the little parts inside our brains are? Well, there's a very small, but very important part of our brain called the 'pons.' To put it simply, it's like someone sitting inside our heads and silently doing a lot of great work.

So, what is this 'Pons'?

Simply put, your pons is the second-to-bottom part of your brainstem . To be precise, it's located just above your medulla oblongata. Think of it like a bridge between the cerebrum above, the medulla oblongata below, and the spinal cord. The pons is a major junction for several of our cranial nerves . Cranial nerves are a network of nerves that connect directly to the brain. So, these nerve connections are very important. They help with several of the sensations in your head, as well as moving various parts of your face and mouth.

What exactly does Pons do? What are its main functions?

The 'Pons' is, as mentioned earlier, the part of the brainstem that connects your brain and spinal cord. Therefore, the 'Pons' is a very important junction in your nervous system . It is the one that provides the pathway for signals to and from the brain. In particular, the 'Pons' contains several 'neurotransmitters' that help with brain functions like sleep.

Let's look at some of the main functions of Pons:

• Controls your sleep and wakefulness: Think about it, the pons has a big impact on how refreshed you feel when you wake up in the morning, and how you fall asleep at night. It's also the part that sets your body's alertness level when you wake up.
• Manages pain signals: The pons is responsible for relaying pain signals from anywhere in your body below your neck to your brain and regulating those signals. This means it also helps determine what kind of pain you are feeling.
• Works with other parts of the brain: The pons is a key link to another important part of the brain called the cerebellum , which controls your body's balance and movement. It also works with other parts of the brain stem, which controls your breathing .

Think of it like a traffic police officer. He's the oneIt sends signals back and forth within the brain , speeds up some of them, and controls some of them.

How is it related to the cranial nerves?

The Pons has important junctions for four of your twelve cranial nerves. These cranial nerves (we'll number them with Roman numerals) connect to the Pons:

• Trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V): This nerve is what allows your face to feel touch and pain. It also controls the muscles you use to chew food. For example, if someone touches your cheek, you feel it, or if you have a toothache, it is because of this nerve.
• Abducens nerve (CN VI): This is a nerve that controls one of the muscles that move the eyes. If this nerve is damaged, you may see as two separate objects, which we call 'diplopia'.
• Facial nerve (CN VII): This nerve controls most of your facial expressions. It is this nerve that works when you smile and frown. It is also the nerve that helps you taste on the front of your tongue.
• Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII): This nerve divides into two parts: the vestibular nerve and the cochlear nerve.
• The vestibular nerve is what gives you your sense of balance. It helps you stay upright when you walk or run.
• The cochlear nerve is what gives you the sense of hearing . It's because of this nerve that you can hear a song or someone talking.

How does the pons help other organs?

The pons helps other organs by carrying sensory information to the brain, and it also directly controls some of your body's unconscious processes. For example, it helps control your sleep-wake cycle and breathing. Your ability to feel pain is also controlled by the pons. This pain sensation allows you to respond to avoid or limit danger.

Where is this 'Pons'?

The Pons is one of the lowest structures in your brain, near the base of your skull. As mentioned earlier, it sits just above the Medulla Oblongata. The Medulla Oblongata then connects to the Spinal Cord through a hole in the base of your skull.

What does the 'pons' look like? How big is it?

The 'Pons' are usually light brown or white in color. In terms of shape, they are shaped like the top stalk of a cabbage flower. In terms of size:

• Height: About 1.06 inches (27 millimeters).
• Width: About 1.49 inches (38 millimeters).
• Depth (thickness): About 0.98 inches (25 millimeters).

Look how small it is! But the work it does is big.

What is the origin of 'Pons'?

Like every other part of your brain and nervous system, the pons is made up of many different types of nervous system cells and structures. It has parts called nuclei ( plural for nucleus). Nuclei are groups of nerve or brain cells that perform the same function or connect to the same areas. These nuclei are made up of two main types of cells:

• Neurons : These are the cells that make up your brain and nerves, transmitting and directing signals. They can convert signals into either chemical or electrical forms.
• Glial cells: These are the support cells of the nervous system. Although they do not transmit nerve signals, they help the nerve cells that do so.

Let's talk a little more about nerve cells (Neurons)

Neurons are the cells that send and receive electrical and chemical signals throughout your nervous system. A neuron has these parts:

• Cell body: This is the main part of the cell.
• Axon: This is the long, arm-like part that extends out from the cell body. At the end of the axon are several finger-like extensions, where the electrical signal from the neuron is converted into a chemical signal. These extensions, called synapses, can send signals to other nearby nerve cells. Think of the axon as an electrical wire, and the synapse is like the plug at the end of the wire.
• Dendrites: These are the small, branching structures of the cell body (the name comes from a Latin word meaning "tree-like"). These dendrites are where chemical signals from the synapses of other nearby neurons are received.
• Myelin :This is a thin, fatty layer that surrounds the axon of a neuron. Like the plastic sheath around an electrical wire, it protects the axon and helps signals travel faster.

Neuronal connections are very complex. The dendrites of a single neuron can connect to thousands of other synapses. Some neurons are long, some are short. This depends on where they are in the body and the function they perform.

What are glial cells?

Glial cells (pronounced glial-al) have many different jobs. They help neurons grow and develop when you're young, and they also help manage how neurons work throughout your life. They also protect your nervous system from infection, regulate the chemical balance of your nervous system, and make the myelin sheath around your axons. Amazingly, there are ten times more glial cells than neurons in your nervous system! They're like the pit crew that service race cars (neurons).

What are the common conditions that affect the Pons?

Many conditions that affect your brain can also affect the pons. Some conditions specifically affect the pons. Below are some examples (in alphabetical order):

• Brain tumors (including cancer)
• Central pontine myelinolysis (damage to the myelin sheath in the pons)
• Head injuries, especially concussions (Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries)
• Congenital disorders, including genetic disorders
• Heavy metal poisoning or other toxins
• Immune and inflammatory conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis)
• Infections (these can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi)
• Locked-in syndrome (in which the entire body is paralyzed except for eye movement) caused by an injury or stroke
• 'Multiple system atrophy' `(Multiple system atrophy)`
• Olivopontocerebellar atrophy
• 'Stroke' `(Stroke)`

What symptoms does this 'Pons' show if there is a problem?

The symptoms of a condition that affects the pons vary greatly depending on the part of the pons that is damaged. Damage to different parts of the pons can affect your body in different ways. Here are some common symptoms:

• Ataxia (inability to coordinate body movements, swaying like a drunk person)
• Deafness
• Double vision (Diplopia)
• Loss of sense of touch (including the ability to feel vibration, temperature, or pain)
• Nystagmus (rapid, uncontrolled movement of the eyes)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Paralysis (This can affect parts of the head, face, or specific parts of the body. If the pons is severely damaged, the entire body may be paralyzed except for eye movement, as in a condition called locked-in syndrome)
• Vertigo (severe dizziness, feeling like things are spinning around you)
• Tinnitus (hearing different sounds in the ears, e.g. ringing...)

What tests are performed to check the health of the 'Pons'?

When diagnosing conditions related to the pons, doctors may perform the following tests:

• Blood tests (These can detect everything from immune system problems to toxins and metals (like copper, mercury, lead))
• 'CT scan' `(Computerized tomography (CT) scan)`
• 'Electroencephalogram (EEG)'
• Electromyogram (nerve conduction test)
• Evoked potentials (sensory tests)
• Genetic testing
• 'M.R.I. Scan' `(Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI))`
• 'P.E.T. Scan' `(Positron emission tomography (PET) scan)`

What are the treatments for Pons-related diseases?

Treatments for conditions that affect the pons vary widely. Some conditions can be treated with medication. Others may require more advanced treatments, such as surgery. Some conditions cannot be cured, or even treated. In such cases, the main treatment is to control the symptoms. There is no single treatment that works for every condition that affects the pons.

How do we take care of Pons?

Some conditions that affect the pons can be prevented, but some are unexpected. In most cases, you can reduce your risk of developing certain conditions or problems. The best preventive measures you can take are:

• Eat a balanced diet: Abnormally high or low vitamin levels can affect your brain and nervous system. Managing your diet can also help with the health of your circulatory system, which in turn affects your brain health.
• Stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight: Your weight and activity level can prevent or delay the onset of conditions that affect the brain, especially heart and circulatory system problems like stroke.
• Use safety equipment:Head injuries, especially concussions and traumatic brain injuries, can damage your brain. Sometimes the damage can be permanent. Wearing protective equipment like a helmet, whether you're at work or at play, can help prevent head injuries.
• Be careful of chronic diseases: Many diseases that affect the brain get worse over time, especially uncontrolled high blood pressure. Treating these diseases can sometimes stop or slow their progression. This can help you avoid serious brain damage.

Finally, the message we want to take home from this story is

Your pons is a small but very powerful part of your brain. It's a part of the brain that we don't think about or pay much attention to most of the time, but it's essential to how you live and how you learn about the world around you. It helps manage many things, including your breathing, balance, and hearing.

Therefore, protecting your brain health from injuries and preventable diseases is a very important part of your life. Although small, the 'pons' does a great job for you!

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Pons, brain, nervous system, sleep, pain, cranial nerves, brain stem