The term lateral tegmental nucleus refers to a group of cells embedded laterally in the pontine central gray of the pontine tegmentum. Defined histologically and by input connections from the lateral hypothalamic area and central amygdalar nucleus, it is located ventral to the locus ceruleus, dorsal to Barrington's nucleus, lateral to the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, and medial to the midbrain trigeminal nucleus. Defined in the rat, it is functionally part of the dorsal pontine gray of the subcortical motor system ( Swanson-2004 ).