Locus coeruleus
(Redirected from Locus caeruleus)
Locus coeruleus (LC) is a nucleus in the pons part of the brainstem involved with physiological responses to stress and panic. It is the principal site for brain synthesis of norepinephrine (noradrenaline). The locus coeruleus is implicated in several mental disorders, including anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, and depression.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The Locus coeruleus is located in the posterior area of the rostral pons in the lateral floor of the fourth ventricle. It is composed of mostly noradrenergic neurons, i.e., nerve cells that release the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (noradrenaline) to send signals to other nerve cells.
Function[edit | edit source]
The locus coeruleus and its system of neurons is implicated in a number of physiological operations, primarily through its widespread projections from the brainstem. The locus coeruleus may figure in clinical depression, panic disorder, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and anxiety.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
The locus coeruleus is affected in a number of neurological disorders and psychiatric disorders. It shows signs of significant degeneration in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In addition, the locus coeruleus may be affected in conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, and anxiety.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Norepinephrine
- Pons
- Brainstem
- Alzheimer's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Panic disorder
- Anxiety
| Locus coeruleus Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
