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Brain: Midbrain tectum
Gray685
Deep dissection of brain-stem. Lateral view.
[[Image:|250px|center|]]
Latin t. mesencephali
Gray's subject #
Part of Midbrain
Components
Artery
Vein
BrainInfo/UW hier-448
MeSH [1]

The tectum (Latin: roof) is a region of the brain, specifically the dorsal part of the mesencephalon (midbrain). This is contrasted with the tegmentum, which refers to the region ventral to the ventricular system. It is responsible for auditory and visual reflexes.

It is derived in embryonic development from the alar plate of the neural tube.

Colliculi[]

In adult humans it is present only in the mesencephalon as the inferior and the superior colliculi.

  • The superior colliculus is involved in preliminary visual processing and control of eye movements. In non-mammalian vertebrates it serves as the main visual area of the brain, functionally analogous to the visual areas of the cerebral cortex in mammals.

Both colliculi also have descending projections to the paramedian pontine reticular formation and spinal cord, and thus can be involved in responses to stimuli faster than cortical processing would allow. Collectively the colliculi are referred to as the corpora quadrigemina.

Related terms[]

The term "tectal plate" (or "quadrigeminal plate") is used to describe the junction of the gray and white matter in the embryo. ( , BrainInfo at the University of Washington ancil-453)

See also[]

External links[]



Mesencephalon (midbrain)

cerebral peduncle: midbrain tegmentum (periaqueductal gray, ventral tegmentum, nucleus raphe dorsalis), pretectum, substantia nigra, red nucleus, pedunculopontine nucleus, medial longitudinal fasciculus, medial lemniscus, rubrospinal tract, lateral lemniscus

tectum: corpora quadrigemina, inferior colliculi, superior colliculi

cerebral aqueduct: oculomotor nucleus, trochlear nucleus, Edinger-Westphal nucleus

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