Reticular nucleus of prethalamus
Nucleus reticularis prethalami
- Latin synonym: Nucleus reticularis thalami
- Synonym: Reticular nucleus of thalamus
- Related terms: Reticular nucleus of thalamus
Definition
Reticular nucleus of prethalamus forms a thin sheet of gray matter which is sandwiched between the thalamus medially and the posterior limb of internal capsule laterally. This is the only thalamic nucleus that does not project to the cortex. Afferent inputs come from the cortex and are glutamatergic / excitatory. While efferents–which comprise of GABAergic / inhibitory neurons–project to other thalamic nuclei, thus regulating the thalamic activity. Additional inputs to the reticular nucleus of prethalamus arise from brainstem reticular formation and basal forebrain, and may participate in modulating the state of alertness and attention.
References
Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2022 IMAIOS.
Blumenfeld, H. (2010). ‘Chapter 7: Somatosensory Pathways’ in Neuroanatomy through clinical cases. (2nd ed.) Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates, pp. 275-276.
Sherman, S.M. and Guillery, R.W. (2001). ‘Chapter II–The Nerve Cells of the Thalamus’, in Exploring the Thalamus. Academic Press, pp. 19-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012305460-9/50016-2
