Fornix of the brain

Fornix of the Brain

The Fornix of the Brain (from the Latin, meaning "arch") is a C-shaped bundle of nerve fibers in the brain that carries signals from the Hippocampus to the Mammillary bodies and then to the Anterior nuclei of thalamus. It is an integral part of the Limbic system, which is involved with emotion formation and processing, learning, and memory.

File:Fornix.png

Fornix of the Brain

Structure

The fornix is a paired structure, with each side consisting of four parts: the crura, the body, the column, and the commissures. The crura converge in the midline of the brain, forming the body of the fornix. The body descends anteriorly and inferiorly to form the columns of the fornix, which end at the mammillary bodies. The commissures connect the two halves of the fornix.

Function

The fornix is the primary efferent output tract of the hippocampus, carrying information to various parts of the brain. It plays a crucial role in cognitive functions related to memory, particularly the transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory and the recall of spatial relationships.

Clinical significance

Damage to the fornix can result in a range of memory disorders and cognitive deficits. For example, Amnesia can occur following damage to the fornix due to stroke, trauma, or conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

See also

• Brain
• Neuroanatomy
• Neuroscience

External links

• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fornix of the brain.