Anatomy
locus coeruleus
Subclass of:
Tegmental portion of pons; Midbrain
Definitions related to locus ceruleus:
  • An area of the brain stem that helps control the brain's alertness, responses to certain stimuli, and stress and anxiety levels.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • (locus coeruleus) A brainstem nucleus. It is the major brain site for the synthesis and secretion of norepinephrine.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (locus coeruleus) Bluish region in the superior angle of the fourth ventricle floor, corresponding to melanin-like pigmented nerve cells which lie lateral to the ponto-mesencephalic central gray (griseum centrale); also known as nucleus pigmentosus pontis.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • (locus coeruleus) Bluish-colored region in the superior angle of the FOURTH VENTRICLE floor, corresponding to melanin-like pigmented nerve cells which lie lateral to the PERIAQUEDUCTAL GRAY.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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