Central gray substance of midbrain
Central gray substance of midbrain
Definition
Periaqueductal gray (PAG; also called the 'central gray') is the gray matter located around the cerebral aqueduct within the midbrain. It plays a role in the descending modulation of pain and in defensive behaviour. The ascending pain and temperature fibers of the spinothalamic tract also send information to the PAG via the spinomesencephalic tract. The spinomesencephalic tract is so-named because the fibers originate in the spine and terminate in the mesencephalon, another name for the midbrain, the part of the brain in which the PAG resides. [WP,unvetted].
Also known as anulus of cerebral aqueduct, central (periaqueductal) gray, midbrain periaqueductal grey, periaqueductal gray, periaqueductal gray matter, periaqueductal gray of tegmentum, periaqueductal grey, periaqueductal grey matter, periaqueductal grey substance — per UBERON
The Central gray substance of midbrain is a part of the Nervous.