Fornix of the brain

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

Structure

The fornix is composed of several parts:

• The crura of the fornix, which begin in the hippocampus and curve around the thalamus.
• The body of the fornix, which is the central part that runs beneath the corpus callosum.
• The columns of the fornix, which descend to the mammillary bodies of the hypothalamus.

Function

The primary function of the fornix is to transmit information from the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies and the anterior nuclei of the thalamus. This pathway is important for the consolidation of long-term memory.

Clinical significance

Damage to the fornix can result in memory disorders, such as anterograde amnesia, where the ability to form new memories is impaired. It is often studied in the context of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Additional images

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  Diagram showing the fornix and its connections.

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  The fornix is shown in relation to the corpus callosum.

See also

• Hippocampus
• Limbic system
• Memory
• Mammillary bodies