Raphe nuclei

The raphe nuclei ( nuclei raphes ) are a group of cores on the central nervous system which is distributed throughout the brain stem. The cores are respectively along the median line at the " seam " of the two halves of the brain stem, hence the name (Greek rhaphé " seam "). Neurotransmitter of the raphe nuclei is serotonin.

The nuclei are involved in descending system of pain reduction. Their afferents are, inter alia from the periaqueductal gray, the efferent fibers go into many parts of the brain, functional but most important to noradrenergic locus coeruleus, which is also located in the brain stem, and the posterior horn of the spinal cord, where they excite in the substantia gelatinosa inhibitory interneurons, in turn, from the periphery coming pain fibers ( A-delta and C- type) inhibit and thus curb the sensation of pain.

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