Mammillary Bodies

A pair of small, rounded nuclei located on the underside of the hypothalamus, forming part of the limbic system and playing a role in memory formation, particularly spatial memory.

Key Functions:

• Part of the Papez circuit, crucial for declarative memory.
• Receive input from the hippocampus via the fornix.
• Project to the anterior nuclei of the thalamus.
• Involved in spatial memory and recollection.

Interacting Systems & Components:

• Hypothalamus (part of)
• Limbic System (component of)
• Fornix (receives input from hippocampus via)
• Thalamus (projects to)
• Memory (involved in)