| anterior nuclei of thalamus | Collective term for three groups of nerve cells which together form the anterior thalamic tubercle: the anteroventral nuclei, a relatively large nucleus; the anteromedial nuclei; and the anterodorsal nuclei, a small (but large-celled) nucleus. The nuclei receive the mamillothalamic tract from the mamillary body, and additional afferents by way of the fornix; they project collectively to the cortex of the cingulate and parahippocampal gyrus. Synonym: nuclei anteriores thalami. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| arcuate nuclei | A variable assembly of small cell groups, probably outlying components of the pontine nuclei, on the ventral and medial aspects of the pyramid in the medulla oblongata. Synonym: nuclei arcuati. (05 Mar 2000) |
| autonomic nuclei | Nuclei located in the spinal cord (T1-L2, S2-S4) and in the brainstem (Edinger-Westphal nucleus, superior and inferior salivatory nuclei, dorsal vagal nucleus and parts of the ambiguus nucleus) from which general visceral efferent preganglionic fibres arise; may be sympathetic (T1-L2) or parasympathetic (craniosacral); hypothalamic nuclei/areas function in concert with autonomic nuclei. (05 Mar 2000) |
| basal nuclei | Nucleus of the cerebral hemisphere that originally included the caudate and lenticular nuclei, the claustrum and the amygdaloid body (complex); functionally the term basal nuclei now specifies the caudate and lenticular nuclei and adjacent cell groups having important connections therewith (subthalamic nucleus; substantia nigra, partes compacta and reticulata); amygdaloid complex now known to be part of the limbic system. Synonym: nuclei basales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| branchiomotor nuclei | Collective term for those motoneuronal nuclei of the brainstem (n. Ambiguus, facial motor nucleus, motor nucleus of the trigeminus) that develop from the branchiomotor column of the embryo and innervate striated muscle fibres (muscles of mastication, facial musculature, pharynx and vocal cord muscles) developed from the mesenchyme of the branchial arches. Synonym: special visceral efferent nuclei, special visceral motor nuclei. (05 Mar 2000) |
| caput nuclei caudati | The head or anterior extremity of the caudate nucleus projecting into the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle. Synonym: caput nuclei caudati, anterior extremity of caudate nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rami caudae nuclei caudati | Branches to the tail of the caudate nucleus. Branches from either the anterior choroid or the posterior communicating artery, or both, to supply the tail of the caudate nucleus, a branch from the middle cerebral artery to the tail of the caudate nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| venae nuclei caudati | Small veins from the caudate nucleus draining into the superior thalamostriate vein. Synonym: veins of caudate nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| parabrachial nuclei | The cell groups flanking the brachium conjunctivum at levels immediately caudal to the inferior colliculus; they serve as way-stations in the pathways ascending from the nucleus of solitary tract to the thalamus and hypothalamus, and receive afferent fibres from the hypothalamus and amygdaloid body. Synonym: nuclei parabrachiales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| raphe nuclei | Collections of small neurons centrally scattered among many fibres from the level of the trochlear nucleus in the midbrain to the hypoglossal area in the medulla oblongata. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ventral tier thalamic nuclei | Collective term for nuclei in the ventral part of the lateral nuclear group, e.g., ventral anterior, lateral, posterolateral, and posteromedial nuclei and the medial and lateral geniculate bodies. The basoventral nuclear complex constitutes the caudal part of the ventral tier thalamic nuclei. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vestibular nuclei | The four cellular masses in the floor of the fourth ventricle giving rise to a widely dispersed special sensory system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vestibulocochlear nuclei | The combined cochlear and vestibular nuclei in the brainstem that receive the incoming fibres of the eighth cranial nerve. See: vestibular nucleus. Synonym: nuclei nervi vestibulocochlearis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cauda nuclei caudati | The elongated posterior extension of the caudate nucleus that parallels the body and inferior horn of the lateral ventricle. Synonym: cauda nuclei caudati, cauda striati. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cerebellar nuclei | Four accumulations of gray substance embedded in the white substance of the cerebellum, comprising the nucleus dentatus, nucleus emboliformis, nucleus globosus, and nucleus fastigii. (12 Dec 1998) |