medial habenula (MHb)

The term medial habenula refers to one of two nuclei that comprise the habenular component of the epithalamus. It is present in the human ( Carpenter-1983 ), macaque ( Paxinos-2009a ), rat ( Swanson-2004 ), and mouse ( Franklin-2008 ). The other is the lateral habenula. Some authors divide the medial habenula of the rat into two parts: dorsal part of the medial habenula and ventral part of the medial habenula. They do not subdivide the lateral habenula ( Swanson-2004 ). Other authors do not subdivide the medial habenula but divide the lateral habenula of the rat ( Paxinos-2009b ) and the mouse ( Franklin-2008 ) into a medial part of the lateral habenula and lateral part of the lateral habenula. Neither nucleus is subdivided in the human ( Carpenter-1983 ) or the macaque ( Paxinos-2009a ). Functionally the habenula belongs to the central gray of the behavior control column ( Swanson-2004 ).

Also known as: medial habenular nucleus, Nucleus habenularis medialis, Nucleus habenularis medialis epithalami, medial habenula, Nucleus habenularis medialis (Hassler), Nucleus habenulae medialis, medial habenula (Nissl)

NeuroNames ID: 296

All Names & Sources

Showing 15 synonym(s)

Language
Name
Source
English
medial habenula
English
medial habenula (Nissl)
English
medial habenular nucleus
English
medial habenular nucleus
English
medial habenular nucleus
Species With The Structure
Equivalent By Human Macaque Rat Mouse
Topology Has The Structure Has The Structure Has The Structure Relevant Data Not Located

Showing 10 record(s)

Basis
Has Equivalent
Organism
Their Name
Source
Topology
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medial habenular nucleus
Topology
Yes
Nucleus habenulae medialis
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Yes
Nucleus habenularis medialis
Topology
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Nucleus habenularis medialis (Hassler)
Topology
Yes
medial habenular nucleus
Topology
Yes
Nucleus habenularis medialis epithalami
Topology
Yes
Nucleus habenularis medialis
Topology
Yes
medial habenula
Topology
Yes
medial habenula (Nissl)
Topology
Yes
medial habenular nucleus
Models Where It Appears
Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

Functional CNS Model - Rat

The Functional CNS Model - Rat (FMrat) ( Swanson-2004) is one of three hierarchical models representing the internal organization of the central nervous system (CNS). The others are the Structural CNS Model - Human (SThmn) and the Functional CNS Model - Human (FMhmn). The FMrat model represents the basic organization of the mouse ( Hof-2000 AMBA-2024 ) and, presumably, other rodents. Functional CNS models differ from structural models in that structures are defined and named by connectivity rather than by proximity to other structures at the same level. Functional models are more useful for representing longitudinal components of are grouped based on information drawn from multiple neuroscientific disciplines. such as connections, neurochemical characteristics, and role in physiogical and behavioral processes. While the Functional Model was developed primarily for an atlas of the rat brain ( Swanson-2004 ), the hierarchical organization of structures is for the most part applicable to the human, macaque, mouse and other mammalian brains as well. Structures at lower levels of the Functional CNS hierarchy are largely the same as in the Classical and Developmental Models, i.e., they were originally identified by stains for gray matter (Nissl substance) and white matter (myelin). At the next higher level they are grouped into basic connectional and functional systems of the CNS, such as the subcortical sensory systems, the brainstem motor system and the behavioral state system. At the highest levels CNS structures are grouped on the basis of dissection and embryologic precursors into cerebrum ( cerebral cortex and cerebral nuclei ), cerebellum, and cerebrospinal trunk.