area postrema

Structure: - the area postrema is a small, elevated area in the lateral wall of the inferior recess of the 4th ventricle - it is one of the few CNS structures with fenestrated endothelium, thus representing a break in the blood-brain barrier Function: - it contains among other things chemoreceptors associated with vomiting

General

circumventricular organ brainstem structure

References

Stedman's Medical Dictionary 26th ed, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1995