The Sensory Circumventricular Organs of the Mammalian Brain Subfornical Organ, Ovlt and Area Postrema

The brain's three sensory circumventricular organs, the subfornical organ, organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and the area postrema lack a blood brain barrier and are the only regions in the brain in which neurons are exposed to the chemical environment of the systemic circulation. Therefore they are ideally placed to monitor the changes in osmotic, ionic and hormonal composition of the blood. This book describes their

- General structure and relationship to the cerebral ventricles

- Regional subdivisions

- Vasculature and barrier properties

- Neurons, glia and ependymal cells

- Receptors, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides and enzymes

- Neuroanatomical connections

- Functions