Section through superior colliculus showing path of oculomotor nerve. Periaqueductal gray is the gray area just peripheral to the cerebral aqueduct.
Transverse section through mid-brain.
Corpora quadrigemina
Cerebral aqueduct
Central gray stratum
Interpeduncular space
Sulcus lateralis
Substantia nigra
Red nucleus of tegmentum
Oculomotor nerve, with 8’, its nucleus of origin
Lemniscus (in blue) with a’ the medial lemniscus and a" the lateral lemniscus
Medial longitudinal fasciculus
Raphé
Temporopontine fibers
Portion of medial lemniscus, which runs to the lentiform nucleus and insula
Cerebrospinal fibers
Frontopontine fibers
Details
Identifiers
Latin
substantia grisea centralis
MeSH
D010487
NeuroNames
1584
NeuroLex ID
birnlex_973
TA98
A14.1.06.321
TA2
5909
FMA
83134
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
[edit on Wikidata]
The periaqueductal gray (PAG, also known as the central gray) is a brain region that plays a critical role in autonomic function, motivated behavior and behavioural responses to threatening stimuli.[1][2] PAG is also the primary control center for descending pain modulation. It has enkephalin-producing cells that suppress pain.
The periaqueductal gray is the gray matter located around the cerebral aqueduct within the tegmentum of the midbrain. It projects to the nucleus raphe magnus, and also contains descending autonomic tracts. The ascending pain and temperature fibers of the spinothalamic tract send information to the PAG via the spinomesencephalic tract (so-named because the fibers originate in the spine and terminate in the PAG, in the mesencephalon or midbrain).
This region has been used as the target for brain-stimulating implants in patients with chronic pain.
^Faull, Olivia K.; Subramanian, Hari H.; Ezra, Martyn; Pattinson, Kyle T. S. (2019). "The midbrain periaqueductal gray as an integrative and interoceptive neural structure for breathing". Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 98: 135–144. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.020. hdl:20.500.11850/317617. ISSN 1873-7528. PMID 30611797.
^Silva, Carlos; McNaughton, Neil (2019-02-17). "Are periaqueductal grey and dorsal raphe the foundation of appetitive and aversive control? A comprehensive review". Progress in Neurobiology. 177: 33–72. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.02.001. ISSN 1873-5118. PMID 30786258. S2CID 73478335.
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The periaqueductalgray (PAG, also known as the central gray) is a brain region that plays a critical role in autonomic function, motivated behavior and...
aqueduct is surrounded by an enclosing area of gray matter called the periaqueductalgray, or central gray. It was first named after Franciscus Sylvius...
including the medial frontal cortex, insular cortex, hypothalamus and periaqueductalgray (PAG). The PAG acts as a relay station for ascending bladder information...
that regulate urination include the pontine micturition center, periaqueductalgray, and the cerebral cortex. The main organs involved in urination are...
vertebrates, an animal's decision to volvate is mediated by the periaqueductalgray region. Examples of species that practice volvation: The European...
receives afferent stimuli from the enkephalinergic neurons of the periaqueductalgray; the serotonergic neurons of the NRM then bilaterally project efferents...
sexual receptivity by the neurons in the ventromedial nucleus, the periaqueductalgray, and other areas of the brain. The ventromedial hypothalamus sends...
reticular formation, several nuclei controlling eye movements, the periaqueductalgray matter, the red nucleus, the substantia nigra, and the ventral tegmental...
periaqueductalgray matter, striatum, and the substantia nigra". Wohlfart et al hypothesized that klazomania originates in the periaqueductalgray matter...
tracts, on each side of the brainstem. It is medial, and close to the periaqueductalgray matter around the cerebral aqueduct. It is found between the spinal...
dysfunction.- Altered cognition: global confusional state. Brainstem: periaqueductalgray.- Reduction of consciousness Hypothalamic lesions may also affect...
anterior insula, dorsal anterior cingulated nucleus (dACC), and the periaqueductalgray (PAG)—were activated in the control subject population when viewing...
brain including the inferolateral red nucleus, superior colliculus, periaqueductalgray, third nerve nucleus, superior cerebellar peduncle, substantia nigra...
Additionally, some ALS axons project to the periaqueductalgray in the pons, and the axons forming the periaqueductalgray then project to the nucleus raphes magnus...
periventricular longitudinal white matter fiber tract located within the periaqueductalgray matter of the dorsal tegmentum of the brainstem. The tract consists...
and insular cortices, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, the brainstem's periaqueductalgray matter, and the spinal cord. Since 1978, it has been known that placebo...
ventrolateral compartments of the periaqueductalgray. Spinal cord Zona incerta afferents terminate within the spinal cord gray matter, particularly the anterior...
and vice versa.[citation needed] Stimulation of the periaqueductalgray and periventricular gray for nociceptive pain, and the internal capsule, ventral...
non-neural origin. They are also located in high concentrations in the Periaqueductalgray, Locus coeruleus, and the Rostral ventromedial medulla. The receptors...
area of the brain involved in reduction of pain sensation is the periaqueductalgray matter that surrounds the third ventricle and the cerebral aqueduct...
that regulate urination include the pontine micturition center, periaqueductalgray, and the cerebral cortex. During erection, these centers block the...
normally expressed in skin and melanocytes, and to a lesser degree in periaqueductalgray matter, astrocytes and leukocytes. In skin cancer, MC1R is highly...
freezing scores. The PMD has important connections to the dorsal periaqueductalgray, an important structure in fear expression. In addition, animals...
is the damaging of the junction of the trigeminal tract and the periaqueductalgray in the brain, and has produced pain relief in a group of patients...
axons of upper motor neurons. The midbrain consists of: Periaqueductalgray: The area of gray matter around the cerebral aqueduct contains various neurons...
of motor coordination (specifically for limb movements) and the periaqueductalgray matter (PAG) contains critical circuits for modulating behavioral...
and rostral pons. It is situated (sources vary) near/within the periaqueductalgray, lateral to the cerebral aqueduct. The mesencephalic nucleus is the...
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