Mammillary body

The mammillary bodies also Mammillarkörper or mamillary body ( from the Latin corpus " body ", from the Latin mamilla " nipple " ) is a paired with primates in other mammals unpaired elevation at the base of the brain between the cerebrum legs ( crura cerebri). It is located at the front end of the fornix and is part of the limbic system.

In its two core areas (nucleus mamillaris lateral and medial ) arise from the optic tract mamillothalamicus (to front thalamic nuclei ) and the optic tract mamillotegmental ( for midbrain hood, mesencephalic tegmentum ). For mammillary pull fornix fibers from the subiculum. Some neurons of the mammillary bodies are histaminergic.

In the first advanced and functional concept of the limbic system, the so-called Papez circuit ( according to James W. Papez ), the corpus was mamillare its central element. Today it is believed that emotions primarily the amygdala is the central core area. The mammillary body is believed to play a role in memory processes. Nothing is known for.

When it comes to alcoholism degeneration of the mammillary bodies and medial thalamus, which manifest themselves as Korsakoff's syndrome.

• Central Nervous System