Stria terminalis
A curved band of fibres running from the amygdala along the floor of the lateral ventricle, in the groove between the caudate nucleus and thalamus.
At a glance
- English
- Stria terminalis
- Latin (TA2)
- Stria terminalis
- System
- Brain and spinal cord
- Region
- Head
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the stria terminalis
The stria terminalis is a slender bundle of fibres that leaves the amygdala in the medial part of the temporal lobe and follows a long C-shaped course around the lateral ventricle. It runs first in the roof of the temporal horn, then curves up through the atrium and forward along the floor of the central part of the ventricle, before turning down near the interventricular foramen. In its forward course it lies in the groove between the caudate nucleus laterally and the thalamus medially, together with the superior thalamostriate vein, and it forms a visible line of separation between the two when the ventricle is opened from above.
Its fibres end mainly in the septal area, the preoptic region and the hypothalamus, especially the ventromedial nucleus, with some reaching the thalamus. Some fibres cross in the anterior commissure to the opposite amygdala. Fibres run the other way too, back from these regions to the amygdala. The stria is the longer of the two main output paths of the amygdala, the other being the more direct ventral amygdalofugal pathway.
Along its course, and especially where it turns down near the anterior commissure, the stria is accompanied by a strip of grey matter, its bed nucleus. This nucleus is often grouped with the central and medial amygdala as the extended amygdala. It is active during sustained anxiety and uncertain threat rather than brief fear, and it helps drive the hormonal stress response through its links with the paraventricular hypothalamus. It also influences feeding through inhibitory fibres to the lateral hypothalamus.
Through the stria terminalis the amygdala can shape autonomic, hormonal and behavioural reactions to emotionally important events. Altered activity of the bed nucleus has been linked with anxiety disorders and with relapse into drug seeking under stress.
Function and supply
- Function
- Carries amygdala output to the septal area, preoptic region and hypothalamus, with return fibres, shaping hormonal, autonomic and anxiety responses.
Anthromica
See the stria terminalis where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
