Dendroarchitectonic study of the neurons of the corpus quadrigeminum superius in man
Baudrimont, M.; Meininger, V.; Baulac, M.
Bulletin de l'Association des Anatomistes 63(181): 167-174
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0376-6160 PMID: 555344 Document Number: 152113
Two different functional zones may be described in the superior colliculus. The superficial layers receive retinal and cortical fibers, the deep layers are a multimodal center and are implied in the oculo-motor control mechanisms. The aim of the present study has been to use network analysis in order to quantify the cell types of the deep layers of the superior colliculus in Man. 50 Golgi impregnated cell have been drawn in the three plans of space. Topological analysis permits to emphasize the existence of two different cell types: collaterally-branched cells or CB cells, and dichotomously-branched cells or DR cells. Quantitative analysis of the dendritic arcs has shown the spatial orientation of the dendritic tree. The proximal dendrites of DR cells are in the horizontal plane, the terminal dendrites are in the vertico-frontal plane. This difference seems to be due to different functional afferences.