- Area postrema
Infobox Brain
Name = PAGENAME
Latin =
GraySubject = 187
GrayPage = 800
Caption = Rhomboid fossa. (Area postrema labeled at bottom center.)
Caption2 =
IsPartOf =
Components =
Artery =
Vein =
Acronym = AP
BrainInfoType = hier
BrainInfoNumber = 769
MeshName = Area+postrema
MeshNumber = A08.186.211.132.810.406.286
DorlandsPre =
DorlandsSuf =
The area postrema is a part of thebrain that controlsvomiting . It was discovered in 1953 by Utah Pharmacologists Herbert L. Borison and S. C. Wang [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,861927,00.html] .Location
It is located in the lateral
reticular formation of themedulla oblongata . More specifically, it is located between thefuniculus separans (a narrow translucent ridge cossing theala cinerea ) and theclava , as a small tongue-shaped area. Morphine directly stimulates the area postrema that causes vomiting.Function
The area postrema, one of the
circumventricular organs , detectstoxin s in theblood and acts as a vomit inducing center. It connects to theNucleus of the Solitary Tract and other autonomic control centres in thebrainstem . It is thus excited by visceral afferent impulses (sympathetic and vagal) arising from thegastrointestinal tract and other peripheral trigger areas.External links
* [http://www.endotext.org/neuroendo/neuroendo3b/neuroendo3b_3.htm Diagram at endotext.org]
* [http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/neuro/server/slides/ns_021-AP.jpgSlide at upenn.edu]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.