pons

pons  (pnz)

n. pl. pon·tes (pntz)

1. A slender tissue joining two parts of an organ.

2. A band of nerve fibers on the ventral surface of the brain stem that links the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum with upper portions of the brain. Also called pons Varolii.

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[Latin pns, bridge; see pent- in Indo-European roots.]

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pons  (pnz)

Plural pontes (pntz)

A thick band of nerve fibers in the brainstem of humans and other mammals that links the brainstem to the cerebellum and upper portions of the brain. It is important in the reflex control of involuntary processes, including respiration and circulation. All neural information transmitted between the spinal cord and the brain passes through the pons.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Pons - United States coloratura soprano (born in France) (1904-1976) Alice-Josephine Pons, Lily Pons
	2.	pons - a band of nerve fibers linking the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum with the midbrain pons Varolii neural structure - a structure that is part of the nervous system brain stem, brain-stem, brainstem - the part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus respiratory center - the center in the medulla oblongata and pons that integrates sensory information about the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and determines the signals to be sent to the respiratory muscles