The
pontine tegmentum, or dorsal pons, is located within the
brainstem, and is one of two parts of the
pons, the other being the ventral pons or
basilar part of the pons. The pontine tegmentum can be defined in contrast to the basilar pons: basilar pons contains the corticospinal tract running craniocaudally and can be considered the rostral extension of the ventral
medulla oblongata; however, basilar pons is distinguished from ventral
medulla oblongata in that it contains additional transverse pontine fibres that continue laterally to become the
middle cerebellar peduncle. The pontine tegmentum is all the material dorsal from the basilar pons to the
fourth ventricle. Along with the dorsal surface of the medulla, it forms part of the
rhomboid fossa - the floor of the fourth ventricle