Nucleus (neuroanatomy)

As a nucleus, nucleus, core or core region (latin nucleus " core "; plural nuclei ) in the neuroanatomy of a collection of nerve cell bodies ( somata or cell bodies ) denotes that lies within the central nervous system. The nuclei are surrounded here by white matter and form, together with the cerebral and cerebellar cortex, the gray matter ( substantia grisea ).

While in the brain, the individual cores are usually well from each other, these groups formed from functionally belong together cell bodies in the spinal cord seem to merge. Together they form the typical butterfly shape of the spinal cord cross section. Since cores can extend over a long spinal cord sections, they are referred to as core pillars.

Collections of nerve cell bodies outside the CNS is called a ganglion.

By way of derogation from the rule of the nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system ganglia, to designate the central nervous system but as cores, traditional for certain subcortical nuclei in the telencephalon, the term basal ganglia ( basal ganglia ) is used.

Important nuclei in the mammalian brain

Cerebrum

The basal ganglia ( basal ganglia ) are medial to the cerebral cortex in the depth of the telencephalon. Their functional significance and relationship to each other is not yet finally resolved. They are, inter alia, a changeover point of the extrapyramidal system. The Basalkernen include:

• Caudate ( tail core ) bulges into the lateral ventricle before
• Striatum ( stripe devices), with the putamen and caudate nucleus

Putamen and globus pallidus are partly also summarized as the lentiform nucleus ( lens body ), but what has been deprecated, as phylogenetically the putamen and the caudate nucleus belong together.

The claustrum (facing ) is situated lateral to the basal ganglia, directly under the cortex. The amygdala ( amygdala, almond body ) lies medial temporal lobe and is part of the limbic system.

Diencephalon

In the diencephalon, a distinction is specific thalamic nuclei (such as the geniculate body ) and non-specific. Alone in the thalamus, there are over 100 nuclear groups. In the nuclei of the hypothalamus Effektorhormone, Liberine and statins and neuropeptides are formed.

• Lateral geniculate nucleus (lateral geniculate body ): It is part of the visual pathway. Here the optic nerve ends ( optic nerve ), the information is forwarded to the visual cortex.
• Medial geniculate body ( medial geniculate body ): It is an important relay station for auditory pathway on the way to the auditory cortex.
• Habenular nuclei: in the Habenula
• Nucleus infundibularis: in the pituitary stalk
• Mamillary nuclei: the mammillary
• Paraventricular nucleus: The nerve cells produce the hormone oxytocin, which is then transported to the axonal neurohypophysis.
• Nucleus preopticus: in front of the optic chiasm
• Suprachiasmatic nucleus: He is the main clock for the internal clock and working closely with the pineal gland together.
• Supraoptic nucleus: The nerve cells produce the hormone vasopressin, which is then transported to the axonal neurohypophysis.
• Ventral posterior nucleus: Specific thalamic nucleus for the haptic perception.
• Nucleus ventralis anterolateralis: Specific nucleus of the thalamus for the control of movement sequences.

Midbrain

In the midbrain are, among others:

• Nuclei motorii of 3 (nucleus nervi oculomotorii ) and 4 (nucleus nervi trochlear ) cranial nerves
• Pretectal nucleus: Switching from descending pathways of the visual cortex to the parasympathetic nucleus of the eye movement nerve ( oculomotor nerve ).
• Parasympathetic nucleus ( Edinger - Westphal nucleus): origin of the parasympathetic fibers of the oculomotor nerve, the center of the ocular motor
• Red nucleus: the most important component of the extrapyramidal system, the starting point of the tractus rubrospinalis
• Substantia nigra: see Extrapyramidalmotorisches system

Hindbrain

In the hindbrain ( metencephalon ) are, among others:

• Cochlear nuclei (screw cores): first change of the auditory pathway, in some mammals in the hindbrain
• Dentate nucleus: the cerebellum, connect to the red nucleus
• Nucleus emboliform: the cerebellum, connect to the red nucleus
• Fastigial nucleus: the cerebellum, connection to equilibrium cores
• Nucleus globosus: the cerebellum, connect to the red nucleus
• Motorii nuclei: nuclei in the pons of the motor units of the 5th, 6th and 7th cranial nerves
• Pontine nuclei ( pontine nuclei ): switching station for trains between the cerebrum and cerebellum
• Nucleus sensibilis pontine: core for the sensory fibers of the fifth cranial nerve ( trigeminal nerve )
• Vestibular nuclei (equilibrium cores): first change of the vestibular nerve and thus the equilibrium orbit, located at some mammals in the hindbrain.

Hindbrain

In the hindbrain are, among others:

• Cochlear nuclei (screw cores): first change of the auditory pathway, in some mammals in the hindbrain
• Nuclei corporis trapezoidei (trapezoid body nuclei ): origin of the lateral longitudinal bundle
• Cuneate nucleus: switching the sensory tracts of the upper / front limb
• Nucleus gracilis: switching the sensory tracts of the lower / rear half of the body
• Nuclei motorii of the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th cranial nerves
• Olivary nucleus (Olive): connect to the cerebellum and spinal cord, wiring of the auditory pathway
• Nuclei parasympathici: origin of the parasympathetic fibers of the 7th, 9th and 10th cranial nerves
• Vestibular nuclei ( vestibular or equilibrium cores): first change of the vestibular nerve and thus the equilibrium orbit, in some mammals in the hindbrain

Nuclei in the spinal cord

• Nucleus intermediolateralis: in the gray matter, the origin of the sympathetic nerve fibers in the thoracic and lumbar
• Motor nuclei ( nuclear column ): Vorder-/Ventralhorn in the gray matter, the origin of the motor fibers of the spinal nerves