Premium
The Diencephalon and Midbrain of the American Rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus )
Author(s) -
Warner Francis James
Publication year - 1947
Publication title -
proceedings of the zoological society of london
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0370-2774
DOI - 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1947.tb00133.x
Subject(s) - anatomy , nucleus , diencephalon , thalamus , biology , optic tract , neuroscience , hypothalamus , optic nerve
S ummary(1. ) The nuclear topography of the thalamus of Crotalus adamanteus is similar to that of tiphenodon punctatum and Lacerta vivipara , resembling these forms more than that of the Hydrosauria. (2. ) The lateral geniculate nucleus consists of a dorsal and a ventral division. (3. ) The hypothalamus resembles, in its nuclear topography, that of Varanus salvator and Chameleon vulgaris . (4. ) A nucleus lentiformis, nucleus pretectalis and nucleus geniculatum pretectale have been observed, which are similar to the corresponding cell masses in Varanus and Lacerta muralis . (5. ) The nucleus interstitialis of the medial longitudinal bundle is similar to that of other reptiles. A nucleus interstitialis tegtnentalis commissurae posterioris, such as noted by Curwen and Miller (1939) in the turtle, has been identified in Crotalus adamanteus . (6. ) The lateral and medial forebrain bundles are quite similar to those of Varanus salvator and Lacerta vivipara . (7. ) The optic tracts are similar to those of other reptiles. (8. ) Dorsal and ventral supraoptic decussations have been noted, similar to those found in Sphenodon punctatum by Cairney. (9. ) A well‐defined habenulo‐thalamic and a habenulo‐tectal tract have been noted. (10. ) A dorsal and ventral tecto‐thalamic tract, such as noted in other reptiles by De Lange, Cairney, Frederikse and others, have been observed. (11. ) A tractus supraoptico‐hypophyseos, similar to the tractus praethalamo‐hypophyseos, which Shanklin noted in Chameleon vulgaris , has been noted in Crotalus adamanteus . (12. ) A well‐defined octavo‐hypothalamic tract was found. (13. ) A complex hypothalamo‐pedunculo‐tegmental fibre system is present, and a fairly large dorsal hypothalamo‐tegmental fibre system has likewise been identified in Crotalus adamanteus . (14. ) Dorsal and ventral tecto‐bulbar fibre systems have been noted, which are quite similar to those of other reptiles.