Edinger-Westphal nucleus
Ed·ing·er–West·phal nucleus
noun \ˌed-iŋ-ər-ˌwest-ˌfäl-, -ˌfȯl-\Definition of EDINGER-WESTPHAL NUCLEUS
: the lateral portion of the group of nerve cells lying ventral to the aqueduct of Sylvius which give rise to the autonomic fibers of the oculomotor nerve supplying the ciliary muscle and the sphincter pupillae
Biographical Note for EDINGER-WESTPHAL NUCLEUS
Ed·ing·er \ˈed-iŋ-ər\ , Ludwig (1855–1918), German neurologist. In 1885 Edinger described for the first time a nucleus beneath the aqueduct of Sylvius that gives rise to some of the fibers of the oculomotor nerve.
West·phal \ˈwest-ˌfäl, -ˌfȯl\ , Carl Friedrich Otto (1833–1890), German neurologist. In 1887 Westphal presented his description of the nucleus described earlier by Edinger. Since Westphal's description is more complete, he has been accorded equal credit with Edinger, and the nucleus is now usually known as the Edinger-Westphal nucleus.
