RETICULAR FORMATIONS Meaning and
Definition
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Reticular formations, also known as the reticular activating system (RAS), refers to a network of interconnected nuclei and fibers located in the central core of the brainstem. It extends from the upper spinal cord to the posterior part of the thalamus and plays a crucial role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle and maintaining alertness and consciousness.
Functionally, the reticular formations act as a sensory filter, selectively transmitting sensory information from the environment to the rest of the brain. It receives and processes various sensory signals, including visual, auditory, and tactile information, and then relays them to higher brain regions.
Furthermore, the reticular formations are involved in the regulation of vital physiological functions such as respiration, cardiovascular activity, and muscle tone. It also contributes to motor control by modulating the activity of the cerebral cortex and influencing voluntary movement.
In addition to its role in maintaining wakefulness, the reticular formations are involved in the state of arousal and attention. It sends projections to other structures involved in alertness, such as the thalamus, hypothalamus, and cortex. Dysfunction in the reticular formations can lead to sleep disorders, coma, or impaired attention and consciousness.
Overall, the reticular formations serve as an essential relay center in the brain, integrating sensory information, regulating physiological processes, and modulating attention and arousal.
Common Misspellings for RETICULAR FORMATIONS
- eeticular formations
- deticular formations
- feticular formations
- teticular formations
- 5eticular formations
- 4eticular formations
- rwticular formations
- rsticular formations
- rdticular formations
- rrticular formations
- r4ticular formations
- r3ticular formations
- rericular formations
- reficular formations
- regicular formations
- reyicular formations
- re6icular formations
- re5icular formations
- retucular formations
- retjcular formations
Etymology of RETICULAR FORMATIONS
The word reticular formations comes from the Latin word reticulum which means net or network. In anatomical terms, the term refers to a complex network of interconnected nerve cells or fibers found in various parts of the brain, including the brainstem. These formations resemble a net-like structure, hence the name reticular formations.
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