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Book

Neuroanatomy, Mammillary Bodies

Diana C. Peterson  1 , Adekunle E. Omole  2 , Debra A. Mayes  3
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Neuroanatomy, Mammillary Bodies

Diana C. Peterson et al.
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Excerpt

The mammillary bodies are paired brainstem nuclei situated on the posteroinferior aspect of the hypothalamus. One mammillary body lies on each side of the midline. Early anatomists named these structures after mammary tissue because of their rounded appearance resembling small breasts (see Image. Mammillary Bodies).

The mammillary bodies play a critical role in memory consolidation, with lesions producing profound cognitive deficits. Surgical interventions in the hypothalamic and limbic regions require a precise understanding of the position of these paired structures to avoid iatrogenic injury. Familiarity with the connections and functional circuitry of the mammillary bodies assists clinicians in correlating anatomical findings with clinical presentation and imaging.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Diana Peterson declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Adekunle Omole declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Debra Mayes declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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