geniculate body

lat·er·al ge·nic·u·late bod·y

the lateral one of a pair of small oval masses related to visual function that protrude slightly from the posteroinferior aspect of the thalamus; commonly considered as part of the metathalamus.

Synonym(s): corpus geniculatum laterale [TA], corpus geniculatum externum

lat·er·al ge·nic·u·late bod·y

(lat'ĕr-ăl jĕ-nik'yū-lăt bod'ē)

The more lateral of a pair of small oval masses that protrude slightly from the posteroinferior aspects of the thalamus; its main (dorsal) subdivision serves as a processing station in the major pathway from the retina to the cerebral cortex, receiving fibers from the optic tract and giving rise to the geniculocalcarine radiation to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe.
Synonym(s): corpus geniculatum laterale [TA] .

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me·di·al ge·nic·u·late bod·y

(mē'dē-ăl jě-nik'yū-lāt bod'ē)

The medial one of a pair of prominent cell groups in the posteroinferior parts of the thalamus; it functions as the last of a series of processing stations along the auditory conduction pathway to the cerebral cortex, receiving the brachium of the inferior colliculus and giving rise to the auditory radiation to the auditory cortex in the superior temporal gyrus.

geniculate body

One of the four small oval prominences on the base of the brain lying in relation to the optic pathways and the THALAMUS. The lateral geniculate bodies contain important links (synapses) in the route of visual information from the eyes to the visual cortex at the back of the brain.