Nucleus ( neuroanatomy ) - Wikipedia Nucleus ( neuroanatomy ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2015 ) In neuroanatomy, a nucleus ( plural form : nuclei ) is a cluster of neurons in the central nervous system, located deep within the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem. The neurons in one nucleus usually have roughly similar connections and functions. Nuclei are connected to other nuclei by tracts, the bundles ( fascicles ) of axons ( nerve fibers ) extending from the cell bodies. A nucleus is one of the two most common forms of nerve cell organization, the other being layered structures such as the cerebral cortex or cerebellar cortex. In anatomical sections, a nucleus shows up as a region of gray matter, often bordered by white matter. The vertebrate brain contains hundreds of distinguishable nuclei, varying widely in shape and size. A nucleus may itself have a complex internal structure, with multiple types of neurons arranged in clumps ( subnuclei ) or layers. The term `` nucleus '' is in some cases used rather loosely, to mean simply an identifiably distinct group of neurons, even if they are spread over an extended area. The reticular nucleus of the thalamus, for example, is a thin layer of inhibitory neurons that surrounds the thalamus. Some of the major anatomical components of the brain are organized as clusters of interconnected nuclei. Notable among these are the thalamus and hypothalamus, each of which contains several dozen distinguishable substructures. The medulla and pons also contain numerous small nuclei with a wide variety of sensory, motor, and regulatory functions. In the peripheral nervous system ( PNS ), a cluster of cell bodies of neurons ( homologous to a CNS nucleus ) is called a ganglion. The fascicles of nerve fibers in the PNS ( homologous to CNS tracts ) are called nerves. Examples Brainstem : red nucleus, vestibular nucleus, inferior olive Cerebellum : dentate nucleus, emboliform nucleus, globose nucleus, fastigial nucleus Basal ganglia : striatum ( caudate and putamen ), pallidum ( globus pallidus, medial and lateral ), substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus Cranial nerve nuclei Ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus : `` The ventromedial hypothalamus ( VMH ) is a distinct morphological nucleus involved in feeding, fear, thermoregulation, and sexual activity. '' See also List of regions in the human brain Brain Nervous system List of nerves of the human body References Jump up ^ Moore, Keith ; Dalley, Arthur ( 2005 ). Clinically Oriented Anatomy ( 5th ed. ). LWW. p. 47. ISBN 0 - 7817 - 3639 - 0. A collection of nerve cell bodies in the CNS is called a nucleus. Jump up ^ Blumenfeld, Hal ( 2010 ). Neuroanatomy through clinical cases ( 2nd ed. ). Sunderland, Mass. : Sinauer Associates. p. 21. ISBN 9780878936137. Jump up ^ Purves, Dale ; Augustine, George J. ; Fitzpatrick, David ; Hall, William C. ; LaMantia, Anthony - Samuel ; White, Leonard E. ( 2012 ). Neuroscience ( 5th ed. ). Sunderland, MA : Sinauer Associates, Inc. p. 15. ISBN 9780878936953. This neuroanatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nucleus_(neuroanatomy)&oldid=774415179 '' Categories : Neuroanatomy Neuroanatomy stubs Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from September 2015 All articles needing additional references All stub articles Talk About Wikipedia Deutsch עברית 日本 語 Polski Português Simple English ไทย Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 8 April 2017, at 08 : 55. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: bundles of neurons in the cns are called
Answer: nucleus