Central gray substance of midbrain

Periaqueductal gray (PAG; also called the 'central gray') is the gray matter located around the cerebral aqueduct within the midbrain. It plays a role in the descending modulation of pain and in defensive behaviour. The ascending pain and temperature fibers of the spinothalamic tract also send information to the PAG via the spinomesencephalic tract. The spinomesencephalic tract is so-named because the fibers originate in the spine and terminate in the mesencephalon, another name for the midbrain, the part of the brain in which the PAG resides. [WP,unvetted].

Aliases

Anulus aquaeductus
Anulus aqueductus cerebri
Anulus of cerebral aqueduct
Central (periaqueductal) gray
Central gray
Central gray of the midbrain
Central gray substance of the midbrain
Central grey
Central grey substance of midbrain
CGMB
Griseum centrale
Griseum centrale mesencephali
Griseum periventriculare mesencephali
Midbrain periaqueductal grey
PAG
Periaquectuctal grey
Periaqueductal gray
Periaqueductal gray matter
Periaqueductal gray of tegmentum
Periaqueductal gray, proper
Periaqueductal grey
Periaqueductal grey matter
Periaqueductal grey substance
S. grisea centralis
Substantia grisea centralis
Substantia grisea centralis mesencephali