The Neuroanatomy of the Headache

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the neuroanatomy of a headache. Although many factors can cause headaches and the clinical manifestations vary greatly, a common neuroanatomical basis exists. The trigeminocervical nucleus receives afferent fibers from the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve and the C1 to C3 spinal nerves, and mediates the information from nociceptors. The activation of the neuron in the trigeminocervical nucleus conducts impulse to a higher center to perceive the headache. Besides the trigeminal nerve and the upper cervical nerves, the glossopharygeal and the vagal afferents terminate in the trigeminocervical nucleus. Convergence of these afferents causes a referred pain.