Red nucleus
Nucleus ruber
Definition
The red nucleus is a midbrain nucleus, composed of small-cell (parvocellular) and large-cell (magnocellular) regions, which receives afferents from the motor cortex, cerebellar nuclei, and substantia nigra, and projects via the rubrospinal and rubronuclear tracts for the coordination of voluntary movements of the limbs and head.
The red nucleus is broad but poorly defined in equids. In carnivores, it is compact and well-defined only in its caudal part. In humans, it is characterized by the prominence of its parvocellular part.
References
Barone R, Bortolami R. Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques, Tome 6, Neurologie I, Vigot, Paris, 2004.
Evans HE, de Lahunta A. Miller’s anatomy of the dog, 4th edition, Elsevier Saunders, St Louis, 2012.
