Body System
limbic system Audio
lim·bic sys·tem [ lim-bik sis-tem ]
Subclass of:
Brain
Definitions related to limbic system:
  • A complex brain system comprised of primitive cortical and subcortical structures and fiber pathways that connect with the diencephalon and brain stem, which plays a role in the control of emotional behavior and motivational drives.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A group of structures in the brain that help control memory, emotions, sexual arousal, and motivation.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • A network of structures in the brain involved in memory and emotions.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A set of forebrain structures common to all mammals that is defined functionally and anatomically. It is implicated in the higher integration of visceral, olfactory, and somatic information as well as homeostatic responses including fundamental survival behaviors (feeding, mating, emotion). For most authors, it includes the AMYGDALA; EPITHALAMUS; GYRUS CINGULI; hippocampal formation (see HIPPOCAMPUS); HYPOTHALAMUS; PARAHIPPOCAMPAL GYRUS; SEPTAL NUCLEI; anterior nuclear group of thalamus, and portions of the basal ganglia. (Parent, Carpenter's Human Neuroanatomy, 9th ed, p744; NeuroNames, http://rprcsgi.rprc.washington.edu/neuronames/index.html (September 2, 1998)).
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Group of brain structures associated with olfaction but of greater importance in other activities, such as autonomic functions and aspects of emotion and behavior.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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