The midbrain reticular formation (MRF), also known as reticular formation of midbrain, mesencephalic reticular formation, tegmental reticular formation, and formatio reticularis (tegmenti) mesencephali, is the part of the
reticular formation
The reticular formation is a set of interconnected nuclei in the brainstem that spans from the lower end of the medulla oblongata to the upper end of the midbrain. The neurons of the reticular formation make up a complex set of neural networks ...
in the
midbrain
The midbrain or mesencephalon is the uppermost portion of the brainstem connecting the diencephalon and cerebrum with the pons. It consists of the cerebral peduncles, tegmentum, and tectum.
It is functionally associated with vision, hearing, mo ...
. It consists of the
dorsal tegmental nucleus,
ventral tegmental nucleus, and
cuneiform nucleus. These are also known as the
tegmental nuclei.
[NeuroNames]
tegmental nuclei
BrainInfo. Accessed January 25, 2011.
The dorsal and ventral tegmental nuclei receive connections from the
mammillo-tegmental ''bundle of Gudden'', a branch of the
mammillothalamic tract
The mammillothalamic tract (MMT) (also mammillary fasciculus, mammillothalamic fasciculus, thalamomammillary fasciculus, bundle of Vicq d'Azyr) is an efferent pathway of the mammillary bodies which project to the anterior nuclei of the thalamus. ...
. The bundle of Gudden might be identical to the
hypothalamotegmental tract.
Along with the
oral pontine reticular nucleus, the midbrain
reticular formation
The reticular formation is a set of interconnected nuclei in the brainstem that spans from the lower end of the medulla oblongata to the upper end of the midbrain. The neurons of the reticular formation make up a complex set of neural networks ...
projects to the
gigantocellular reticular nucleus
The gigantocellular reticular nucleus (also magnocellular reticular nucleus) is the (efferent/motor) medial zone of the reticular formation of the caudal pons and rostral medulla oblongata. It consists of a substantial number of giant neurons, but ...
.
The midbrain reticular formation is the point at which the different
algedonic signals come together, ensuring that the organism is aware of potential threats.
See also
*
Hypothalamotegmental tract
*
Mammillothalamic tract
The mammillothalamic tract (MMT) (also mammillary fasciculus, mammillothalamic fasciculus, thalamomammillary fasciculus, bundle of Vicq d'Azyr) is an efferent pathway of the mammillary bodies which project to the anterior nuclei of the thalamus. ...
*
Mesencephalic locomotor region
The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is a functionally defined area of the midbrain that is associated with the initiation and control of locomotor movements in vertebrate species.
Neuroanatomical organization
The MLR was first described by S ...
References
External links
*
NeuroNames
''NeuroNames'' is an integrated nomenclature for structures in the brain and spinal cord of the four species most studied by neuroscientists: human, macaque, rat and mouse. It offers a standard, controlled vocabulary of common names for structure ...
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midbrain reticular formation
Midbrain
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