Anatomy

Area Postrema

A small, rounded eminence on each side of the FOURTH VENTRICLE, which receives nerve fibers from the SOLITARY NUCLEUS; SPINAL CORD; and adjacent areas of the MEDULLA OBLONGATA. The area postrema lies outside the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER and its functions include acting as an emetic chemoreceptor.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A small, rounded eminence on each side of the FOURTH VENTRICLE, which receives nerve fibers from the SOLITARY NUCLEUS; SPINAL CORD; and adjacent areas of the MEDULLA OBLONGATA. The area postrema lies outside the BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER and its functions include acting as an emetic chemoreceptor.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

Loading graph…

Drag nodes to rearrange; hover to trace links; click a node to open its page.

MeSH Record

Synonyms

8 entry terms
  • Chemoreceptor Trigger Zone
  • Area Postremas
  • Chemoreceptor Trigger Zones
  • Postrema, Area
  • Trigger Zone, Chemoreceptor
  • Trigger Zones, Chemoreceptor
  • Zone, Chemoreceptor Trigger
  • Zones, Chemoreceptor Trigger

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

23 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, injuries, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2003

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Cerebral Ventricles (1965-2001)
  • Fourth Ventricle (2000-2002)
  • Medulla Oblongata (1966-2002)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A06w.688.178w.500w
  2. A08w.186w.211w.132w.810w.591w.500w.286w
  3. A08w.713.049w.500w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Area Postrema. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D031608. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D031608
  2. Area Postrema. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_postrema
  3. Area Postrema. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q640532