pre·tec·tal ar·e·a

[TA]

a narrow, transversely oriented rostral zone of the mesencephalic tectum, bounded caudally by the superior colliculus, rostrally by the habenular trigone, and laterally by the pulvinar thalami; the pretectal area contains several nuclei that receive fibers from the optic tract; it has bilateral efferent connections with the Edinger-Westphal nucleus of the oculomotor nuclear complex by way of which it mediates the pupillary light reflex.

Synonym(s): pretectal region, pretectum

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

pretectum

Either of the midbrain structures located anterior to the superior colliculus. Each pretectum contains several nuclei including the pretectal olivary nucleus, the nucleus of the optic tract and the anterior, medial and posterior pretectal nuclei. A small number of retinal fibres leave the optic tract before the lateral geniculate bodies and synapse mainly in the pretectal olivary nucleus and in the nucleus of the optic tract. Axons from the pretectal olivary nucleus project to the Edinger-Westphal nuclei. Neurons in the pretectal olivary nuclei are involved in pupillary constriction. See pupil light reflex; tectum of the mesencephalon.

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References in periodicals archive

Nerve axons in the retina make synapses at the mesencephalon, lateral geniculate nucleus, pretectum, and hypothalamus.

Optical coherence tomography findings in conversion disorder: are there any differences in the etiopathogenesis of subtypes?

These perforating arteries are of utmost importance and irrigate the posterior part of the thalamus, medial ventral thalami, the walls of the third ventricle, hypothalamus, and subthalamic-mesencephalic junctions (subthalamus, substantia nigra, red nucleus, oculomotor nucleus, trochlear nucleus, reticular formation of the midbrain, pretectum, rhomboid fossa, and the posterior part of the internal capsule) [7-17].

Uncommon Association of Two Anatomical Variants of Cerebral Circulation: A Fetal-Type Posterior Cerebral Artery and Inferred Artery of Percheron, Complicated with Paramedian Thalamomesencephalic Stroke--Case Presentation and Literature Review

Lund, "Extent and duration of recovered pupillary light reflex following retinal ganglion cell axon regeneration through peripheral nerve grafts directed to the pretectum in adult rats," Experimental Neurology, vol.

Repulsive Environment Attenuation during Adult Mouse Optic Nerve Regeneration

Supranuclear control of vertical eye movements is subserved by diffuse cortical projections from the frontal and supplementary eye fields reaching the rostral interstitial nuclei of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (riMLF) and the interstitial nuclei of Cajal (inC) at the level of the midbrain pretectum (7).

Supranuclear gaze abnormality in sporadic-Creutzfeldt Jacob disease/Sporadik Creutzfeldt-Jacob hastaliginda supranukleer bakis parezisi

In addition, the rostral superior colliculus projects to the Edinger-Westphal nucleus via the primary, shorter route through the pretectum and also through a secondary, longer route through the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis (pons), cerebellar cortex, and cerebellar nuclei.

Effect of oculomotor rehabilitation on accommodative responsivity in mild traumatic brain injury

* Upward gaze palsy results from compression on the pretectum and superior colliculi

Raised intracranial pressure: what it is and how to recognise it

A direct OKN pathway from the retina to the pretectum (nucleus of the optic tract) as seen in other animals is either weak or non-existent in humans.

Optokinetic nystagmus

Neurons were also found in the pretectum, midbrain, and cerebellar nuclei that are, in all probability, correlated primarily with vertical eye movements and gaze (not illustrated).

Central pathways mediating oculomotor reflexes in an elasmobranch, Scyliorhinus canicula