Transverse section of mid-brain at level of superior colliculi. ("Tegmentum" visible center right.)
Section through superior colliculus showing path of oculomotor nerve. (Tegmentum not labeled, but surrounding structures more clearly defined.)
Details
Part of
Midbrain
Identifiers
Latin
Tegmentum Mesencephali
MeSH
D013681
NeuroNames
491
NeuroLex ID
birnlex_1200
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
[edit on Wikidata]
The midbrain tegmentum is part of the midbrain that is broken up into the tectum and the tegmentum. The midbrain tegmentum extends from the substantia nigra to the cerebral aqueduct in a horizontal section of the midbrain. It forms the floor of the midbrain that surrounds below the cerebral aqueduct as well as the floor of the fourth ventricle while the midbrain tectum forms the roof of the fourth ventricle. The tegmentum contains a collection of tracts and nuclei with movement-related, species-specific, and pain-perception functions. The general structures of midbrain tegmentum include red nucleus and the periaqueductal grey matter.
Nigrostriatal Pathway and Mesolimbic Pathway in the Dopaminergic System
Unlike the midbrain tectum (which is a sensory structure located posteriorly), the midbrain tegmentum, which locates anteriorly, is related to a number of motor functions. Within the tegmentum, the red nucleus is in charge of motor coordination (specifically for limb movements) and the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) contains critical circuits for modulating behavioral responses to pains. The substantia nigra (black substance) serves an important role in rewarding behaviors such as approaching desired objects. In addition, the substantia nigra forms reciprocal connections with the basal ganglia which are highly correlated with motor functions and learning.
The midbrain tegmentum is also an important part of the dopaminergic system which is essential for feelings of reward and pleasure. Two regions in the midbrain tegmentum are of particular interest. The first one is the substantia nigra which is an important part of the nigrostriatal pathway. This pathway serves to coordinate motor movements and when left unbalanced, motor deficits would follow. For instance, when the dopamine neurons are lost from the substantia nigra, the condition of extreme muscle rigidity occurs as in the Parkinson's disease. The second region is the ventral tegmental area (VTA; or simply ventral tegmentum) which is at the hub of the mesolimbic pathway. Specifically, the VTA is the origin of dopaminergic cell bodies from which signals reach the anterior parts of the brain (e.g., frontal lobes) as well as the posterior parts (e.g., cerebellum). Because of this pathway regulates the experience of reward and pleasure, it is not surprising to see that food and drugs affect it the most in terms of a loss of impulse control. That is, the mesolimbic pathway is essential in regulating drug addiction. The potential mechanism is through the associative learning of the environmental cues and reward. For instance, through each drug use, individuals increasingly associate the cues related to each drug use (e.g., the room in which the drug is taken or the people with which individuals take drug). Over time, the drug enhances the dopamine-related, classically-conditioned cues associated with drug taking. As a result, later encounters with these cues will produce and heighten dopamine activity and subsequently prompt individuals to crave drugs. Moreover, excessive mesolimbic dopamine activity plays a role in schizophrenia, a behavioral disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, blunted emotion, agitation, etc. On the other hand, a lack of mesolimbic dopamine activity may induce deficits in attention.[1]
See also
Pontine tegmentum
External links
Photo
"Anatomy diagram: 13048.000-3". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01.
Notes
^Kolb, Bryan; Ian Q. Whishaw. (2015). Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology (7. ed.). New York, NY: Macmillan. p. 71-G-30. ISBN 978-1-4292-8295-6.
v
t
e
Anatomy of the midbrain
Tectum (Dorsal)
Surface
Corpora quadrigemina:
Inferior colliculus
Brachium
Superior colliculus
Brachium
Grey matter
Pretectal area
White: Sensory/ascending
Spinotectal tract
Central tegmental tract
White: Motor/descending
Tectospinal tract
Peduncle (Ventral)
Tegmentum
White: Sensory/ascending
Lemnisci
Medial
Lateral
Ascending MLF
Vestibulo-oculomotor fibers
Spinothalamic tract
Anterior trigeminothalamic tract
Dentatothalamic tract
White: Motor/descending
Rubrospinal tract
Rubro-olivary tract
Descending MLF
Grey: cranial nuclei
GSA
Mesencephalic- GSE
Oculomotor nucleus, Trochlear nucleus- GVE
Edinger–Westphal nucleus
Grey: other
Periaqueductal gray
Raphe nuclei
dorsal
Ventral tegmental area
Rostromedial tegmental nucleus
Pedunculopontine nucleus
Red nucleus
Rostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus
… Brain MRI showed abnormal lesions in the peri-third ventricle, the periaqueductal gray matter of the midbrain, the hypothalamus, and the pontine tegmenta on the right side. …
… Clinical application for a patient to improve the tegmenta of the anterior tooth by setting a temporary bridge on her lower dentition was attempted. …
Tegmenta synonyms, Tegmenta pronunciation, Tegmenta translation, English dictionary definition of Tegmenta. Anatomy n. 1. A covering or integument of an organ or body part. 2. The ventral part of the midbrain. teg·men′tal adj. n ...
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