What Is the Locus Coeruleus?

1. Blue spots:

1. Blue spots:

The blue spot is located at the bottom of the fourth ventricle, the front and back of the pons. Blue spots are the main site of noradrenaline synthesis in the brain.

The blue spot nucleus (LocusCoeruleus), also known as the blue spot, also known as the blue spot nucleus, is a group of nerve nuclei located in the brainstem. Its function is related to stress response, and it is involved in arousal and alert. The blue spot is located on the front and back of the pons, near the end of the inferior wall of the fourth ventricle. Blue spots are the main site of noradrenaline synthesis in the brain.

2. Ventricle:

The cavity of the brain, divided into four, is connected up and down, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Ventricular system inside the brain. There are left and right ventricles in the cerebral hemisphere; there is a third ventricle in the interbrain; there is a fourth ventricle between the cerebellum and the medulla oblongata; the third ventricle is connected by the midbrain aqueduct. The choroid plexus in the ventricle produces hydrocephalus that fills the ventricle and is injected into the subarachnoid space to nourish neural tissue, as a buffer medium to protect the brain tissue from shock. If an obstruction occurs in a part of the ventricular system, obstructive hydrocephalus occurs.

Chinese name

Blue spot

Foreign name

Locus Coeruleus

lie in

Floor of fourth ventricle

Function

Is the main site for the synthesis of norepinephrine

Blue Spots Blue Spots' Physiological Functions:

Blue spots are widely projected in the central nervous system. Its target areas include the spinal cord, cerebellum, hypothalamus, relay nuclei of the thalamus, amygdala, base of the telencephalon, and the cerebral cortex. Norepinephrine produced by blue spots has an excitatory effect on most parts of the brain, thereby strengthening the arousal state and preparing the brain's neurons to respond to future stimuli. According to some estimates, a single neuron within a blue spot can activate almost the entire cerebral cortex through its huge axon branches.

The blue spot accepts afferents from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the control center of homeostasis. The cingulate gyrus and amygdala are also projected towards the blue spot, allowing certain emotional stimuli to activate blue spot neurons. In addition, the cerebellum and nucleus raphe also project blue spots. Blue spots also accept inputs from the following brain regions: (1) the medial prefrontal lobe, which is excitatory, long-term, and increases with increasing levels of brain and body activity; (2) paramegaloblastic nuclei Its function is to integrate the autonomic nervous system and environmental information; (3) the sublingual anterior nucleus, the connection is related to gaze function; (4) the lateral hypothalamus, this connection has an exciting effect on the blue spot.

Blue spot Blue spot location and function:

An scholar first discovered the anatomical structure of the blue spot. The neurons in the blue spot are mainly medium-sized neurons. The bluish cyan of the blue spot is due to the melanin particles therein. The neuromelanin in blue spots is produced by the polymerization of norepinephrine. This is similar to the phenomenon that the substantia nigra of the basal nucleus produces neuromelanin by polymerizing dopamine.

The blue spot is located on the deep side of the head of the boundary ditch. It is a small pigmented area, up to the caudal end of the hypothalamus, reaching the upper end of the trigeminal motor nucleus, showing a light blue color. On the cross section, it is located on the ventrolateral part of the gray matter of the fourth ventricle floor, near the outer wall. It is located on the medial side of the parabranchial nucleus and the upper foot of the cerebellum at the level of the Lingnao Gorge. It is mainly composed of medium-sized cells, and its axons are widely projected to the telencephalon, mesencephalon, midbrain, pontine, medulla, cerebellum and spinal cord. Its function is mainly related to sleep.

Blue spots are closely related to stress responses. The stress response activates the blue spot neurons, enhances their synthesis and secretion of norepinephrine, thereby enhancing the cognitive function of the prefrontal lobe, increasing the level of motivation, and activating the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, thereby improving sympathetic nerve activity and Inhibits parasympathetic nerve activity.