Final answer:
The correct term for the somatic sensory column extending from the midbrain to the pons is the mesencephalic sensory column, which is part of the brain stem and processes somatosensory information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for the somatic sensory column that extends from the midbrain to the pons is the mesencephalic sensory column. This region is part of the brain stem, which also includes the pons and the medulla. Within the central nervous system, somatosensory pathways, such as the dorsal column system and the spinothalamic tract, ascend the brain stem as the medial lemniscus, where they carry sensory information to the brain. In the trigeminal system, which is the equivalent ascending pathway for the head and neck, proprioceptive information of the face is processed in the mesencephalic nucleus.