supramammillary area (SuM)

The term supramammillary area refers to the location of a group of small, variously described nuclei defined by Nissl stain in the posterior hypothalamic region. It is located dorsal to the medial mammillary nucleus and lateral mammillary nucleus, ventral to the posterior hypothalamic area, and ventromedial to the lateral hypothalamic area ( Pan-2004) . It is not well defined in the human ( Crosby-1962; Saper-2004 ), but is more clearly identifiable in the macaque ( Jones-2005; Bleier-1984 ). It is most clearly defined in the rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and mouse ( Hof-2000 ), where it is also commonly referred to as the 'supramammillary nucleus'. In the rat and mouse it is divided into two parts: the medial part of the supramammillary nucleus and the lateral part of the supramammillary nucleus. Functionally it is part of the behavioral state system ( Swanson-2004 ).

Also known as: supramammillary nucleus, Nucleus supramammillaris, Nucleus supramamillaris hypothalami, supramammillary nucleus (Cajal), supramamillary nucleus, supramammillary area

NeuroNames ID: 417

All Names & Sources

Showing 10 synonym(s)

Name:

supramammillary nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Source:

Crosby-1962

Citation:

New York: MacMillan, 1962

Source Title:

Correlative Anatomy of the Nervous System

Name:

supramammillary nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Martin-1997

Citation:

Primate Information Center, University of Washington, Seattle, 1997.

Source Title:

Template Atlas of the Primate Brain

Name:

supramammillary nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Bowden-1997

Citation:

Source Title:

A digital Rosetta stone for primate brain terminology

Name:

Nucleus supramammillaris

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Riley-1943

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1943

Source Title:

An Atlas Of The Basal Ganglia, Brain Stem And Spinal Cord (Based On Myelin-Stained Material)

Name:

Nucleus supramamillaris hypothalami

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Shantha-1968

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1968

Source Title:

A Stereotaxic Atlas Of The Java Monkey Brain (Macaca irus)

Name:

SUM

Language:

acronym

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-1998

Citation:

Second Revised Edition, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1998

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain

Name:

supramammillary nucleus (Cajal)

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-1998

Citation:

Second Revised Edition, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1998

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain

Name:

SuM

Language:

acronym

Organism:

mouse

Source:

Paxinos-2001

Citation:

Second Edition, Academic Press, San Diego, 2001

Source Title:

The Mouse Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates

Name:

supramamillary nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

macaque

Source:

Jones-2005

Citation:

UC Regents Davis campus, 2005

Source Title:

BrainMaps.org

Name:

supramammillary area

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Pan-2004

Citation:

Progress in Neurobiology. 74:3:127-166

Source Title:

The supramammillary area: its organization, functions and relationship to the hippocampus

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 7 record(s)

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

Nucleus supramammillaris

Source:

Riley-1943

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

supramammillary nucleus

Source:

Crosby-1962

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

Nucleus supramamillaris hypothalami

Source:

Shantha-1968

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

supramammillary nucleus

Source:

Martin-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

supramammillary area

Source:

Pan-2004

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

supramammillary nucleus

Source:

Bowden-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

supramammillary nucleus (Cajal)

Source:

Swanson-1998

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.