| pretectum | A narrow, transversally oriented rostral zone of the mesencephalic tectum, bounded caudally by the superior colliculus, rostrally by the habenular trigone, and laterally by the pulvinar thalami; the area contains several nuclei that receive fibres from the optic tract; it has bilateral efferent connections with the Edinger-Westphal nucleus of the oculomotor nuclear complex by way of which it mediates the pupillary light reflex. Synonym: pretectal region, pretectum. (05 Mar 2000) |
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