habenula

American  

[huh-ben-yuh-luh] / həˈbɛn yə lə /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

habenulae

1. a narrow bandlike structure, as the stalk attaching the pineal gland to the thalamus.

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Other Word Forms

• habenular adjective

Etymology

Origin of habenula

1875–80; < Latin: small strip of skin, equivalent to habēn ( a ) strap, thong, rein (derivative of habēre to have, hold, possess; cf. able, habit ¹) + -ula -ule

Example Sentences

Employing patch-clamp electrophysiology, researchers elucidated changes in neuronal excitability in the medial habenula and ventral tegmental area based on nicotine dosage and sex.

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2024

The habenula, for its part, clearly acts as a kind of "satnav," showing the fish where it can locate a comfortable temperature and guiding it straight back there.

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2024

When nicotine binds to neuronal receptors in a brain region called the habenula, Kenny found, it prompts the pancreas to release glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 10, 2021

Meanwhile, chronically high glucose levels—communicated through the vagus and other interoceptive pathways—cause the habenula to respond less vigorously to nicotine, prompting the rats to seek more of the drug.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 10, 2021

Remission of major depression under deep brain stimulation of the lateral habenula in a therapy-refractory patient.

From Nature • Feb. 13, 2018