Mamillary body

Mamillary body

The Mamillary body (or mamillary bodies) is a pair of small round structures located on the undersurface of the brain that form part of the limbic system. They are located in the hypothalamus and are named for their resemblance to breasts (mamillae).

Function

The mamillary bodies are involved in the processing of recognition memory. They receive signals from the hippocampus via the fornix and project them to the thalamus, a process that is thought to be important in memory consolidation. Damage to the mamillary bodies can result in memory loss and is a key feature of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a neurological disorder associated with chronic alcohol abuse.

Anatomy

Each mamillary body is composed of two parts: the medial and lateral nuclei. The medial nucleus is involved in the sense of smell and the lateral nucleus is involved in the sense of taste. The mamillary bodies are part of the Papez circuit, a neural pathway involved in emotion and memory processing.

Clinical significance

Damage to the mamillary bodies can result in a range of memory disorders. The most well-known of these is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is characterized by severe memory loss, confusion, and coordination problems. Other conditions that can involve damage to the mamillary bodies include Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury.

See also

• Brain
• Hypothalamus
• Limbic system
• Memory
• Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome