The cytoarchitecture of the human anteroventral cochlear nucleus

Abstract The cytoarchitecture of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (Av) was studied in six human brain stems stained with cresyl violet. A compensating polar planimeter was used to measure the cross‐sectional area of perikarya drawn with a camera lucida device. The majority of neurons are ovoid in shape with somewhat eccentric nuclei and moderately coarse Nissl granules which are uniformly distributed throughout the neuroplasm. On a dimensional basis, there is a single population of cells which vary in size according to a normal distribution. The average perikaryal size is 370 sq. μ (18 × 26 μ). Cellular density is greatest along the lateral margin of Av near the rostral end. Neurons of all sizes intermingle in every part of the nucleus and no circumscribed area can be characterized as containing exclusively or even predominantly neurons of any given size. The cytoarchitecture of the human anteroventral cochlear nucleus so closely resembles that of the rhesus monkey as to suggest similar fiber projections and physiological properties in both species.