Fornix

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Fornix
Gray734.png
Scheme of rhinencephalon. (Fornix labeled at center top.)
Details
Part ofLimbic system
SystemCentral nervous system
ArteryAnterior cerebral artery
VeinGreat cerebral vein
Identifiers
LatinFornix cerebri
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TH{{#property:P1694}}
TE{{#property:P1693}}
FMA{{#property:P1402}}
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
[[[d:Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 865: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|edit on Wikidata]]]



The fornix is a C-shaped bundle of nerve fibers in the brain that acts as the major output tract of the hippocampus. It is part of the limbic system and plays a crucial role in cognition and memory processes.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The fornix is divided into several parts:

  • The crura of the fornix, which begin in the hippocampus.
  • The body of the fornix, which is the main part of the structure.
  • The columns of the fornix, which extend to the mammillary bodies.

The fornix arches over the thalamus and under the corpus callosum, connecting the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies and the septal nuclei.

Function[edit | edit source]

The primary function of the fornix is to transmit information from the hippocampus to other parts of the brain, particularly the mammillary bodies and the anterior nuclei of the thalamus. This pathway is essential for the consolidation of long-term memory.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

Damage to the fornix can result in memory disorders, such as anterograde amnesia, where the ability to form new memories is impaired. This can occur due to various conditions, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, or neurodegenerative diseases.

Related Structures[edit | edit source]

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD