Exploration of the brain from the medial aspect

Stria medullaris thalami; mammillothalamic tract entering anterior nucleus of thalamus; thalamic branches of posterior cerebral artery

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Image #16-5

Exploration of the brain from the medial aspect

Stria medullaris thalami; mammillothalamic tract entering anterior nucleus of thalamus; thalamic branches of posterior cerebral artery

The thalamus and tegmentum of the mesencephalon have been further dissected. The course of the mammillothalamic tract into the anterior nucleus of the thalamus is exposed. The red nucleus has been partially removed and its relation to ascending fibers of the brachium conjunctivum demonstrated. Branches of the posterior cerebral artery enter the posterior perforated substance in the interpeduncular fossa and course upward through the medial thalamic region.

1. Corpus callosum (trunk)
2. Choroid plexus lateral ventricle
3. Anterior tubercle of thalamus
4. Head of caudate nucleus
5. Stria terminalis
6. Stria medullaris thalami
7. Mamillothalamic tract
8. Lamina terminalis and anterior commissure
9. Subcallosal gyrus
10. Fornix (column) (cut across and retracted medially)
11. Mamillary body
12. Optic recess
13. Optic chiasm
14. Infundibular recess
15. Posterior communicating artery
16. Posterior cerebral artery (passing laterally around cerebral peduncle)
17. Cingulum
18. Fornix (crus) (cut across)
19. Corpus callosum (splenium)
20. Pulvinar
21. Habenula and posterior commissure (divided in midline)
22. Posterior cerebral artery
23. Fasciculus retroflexus (lower half removed in exposing red nucleus)
24. Dissected area of thalamus
25. Quadrigeminal plate
26. Red nucleus (partially removed)
27. Medial central branch of posterior cerebral artery entering posterior perforated substance to distribute to medial thalamic region
28. Decussation brachium conjunctivum (superior cerebellar peduncle) and brachium conjunctivum (superior cerebellar peduncle)
29. Oculomotor nerve (III) crossing medial surface of cerebral peduncle
30. Longitudinal fasciculus (pyramidal)