Vagal trigone

The cells of the dorsal nucleus are spindle-shaped, like those of the posterior column of the spinal cord, and the nucleus is usually considered as representing the base of the posterior column. It measures about 2 cm. in length, and in the lower, closed part of the medulla oblongata is situated behind the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus; whereas in the upper, open part it lies lateral to that nucleus, and corresponds to an eminence, named the vagal trigone (ala cinerea, not to be confused with tuberculum cinereum nor tuber cinereum), in the rhomboid fossa.