raphe nuclei
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Function
- caudal projections to the medulla oblongata & spinal cord appear to regulate perception of pain
- rostral raphe nuclei appear to work in conjunction with norepinephrine in regulation of arousal.
Structure
- the raphe nuclei are a group of unpaired nuclei containing serotoninergic neurons,in & along the median plane of the mesencephalic tegmentum & rhombencephalic tegmentum.
These nuclei include:
- nucleus centralis tegmenti superior
- nucleus raphes dorsalis
- nucleus raphes pontis
- nucleus raphes magnus
- nucleus raphes pallidus
- nucleus raphes obscurus
Efferents
Serotoninergic neurons within the raphe nuclei project to the:
- hypothalamus
- hippocampus
- amygdala
- septum
- striatum
- cingulate gyrus
- cerebellum
- brainstem (including substantia nigra)
- spinal cord
Caudal raphe nuclei project largely to the medulla oblongata & spinal cord.