The mammillary bodies are two small round swellings on the underside of the brain, behind the pituitary stalk and in front of the cerebral peduncles. Anatomically they are part of the posterior hypothalamus, but they belong functionally to the limbic system. They receive the fornix and project to the anterior thalamic nucleus through the mammillothalamic tract.
| Location | Ventral surface of the brain in the interpeduncular fossa, posterior to the tuber cinereum |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Posterior communicating artery (perforating branches); Posterior cerebral artery (perforating branches) |
Relay memory information from the hippocampus to the thalamus as part of the Papez circuit.
The mammillary bodies are characteristically damaged in thiamine deficiency, as in chronic alcohol misuse, causing Wernicke encephalopathy (confusion, eye movement problems, unsteadiness) and later Korsakoff syndrome. They may appear shrunken on MRI. Early thiamine treatment prevents permanent memory loss.
Acute thiamine deficiency causing confusion, ophthalmoplegia and ataxia with damage to the mammillary bodies.
Lasting memory loss and confabulation following mammillary body and thalamic damage.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
