| supraoptic commissures | The commissural fibres that lie above and behind the optic chiasm. Synonym: Ganser's commissures, Gudden's commissures, Meynert's commissures, supraoptic commissures. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| supraoptic nucleus | Hypothalamic nucleus overlying the beginning of the optic tract. (12 Dec 1998) |
| supraoptic nucleus of hypothalamus | A large-celled neurosecretory nucleus in the hypothalamus, located over the lateral border of the optic tract, from which the supraopticohypophysial tract arises; its neurons produce and transport vasopressin released into the general circulation from the axon terminals in the supraopticohypophysial tract. Synonym: nucleus supraopticus hypothalami, supraoptic nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| supraopticohypophysial tract | A bundle of unmyelinated fibres originating from all cells of the supraoptic nucleus and an estimated 20% of those of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, which extend through the infundibulum and pituitary stalk to their endings in the posterior lobe of the hypophysis; the fibres convey neurosecretory substances, vasopressin and oxytocin, which are stored in (and can be released into the circulating blood from) their terminals. See: hypophysis, neurosecretion. Synonym: tractus supraopticohypophysialis, hypothalamohypophysial tract. (05 Mar 2000) |