nucleus of the inferior colliculus


nucleus of the inferior colliculus

A three-part nucleus forming the caudal pair of bulges -- the inferior colliculi -- in the tectum of the midbrain. This nucleus is an auditory relay center: the cochlear and other hindbrain auditory nuclei send information rostrally in the lateral lemniscus, axons of the lateral lemniscus synapse in the inferior colliculus, and axons originating in the inferior colliculus take the brachium of the inferior colliculus rostrally to synapse in the medial geniculate body of the thalamus. See also: nucleus