cerebral crus (crc)

The term cerebral crus (crc) refers to a predominantly white matter part of the midbrain (MBR). Defined by dissection and internal structure, it together with two otherr components form the cerebral peduncle (CPD), namely, the substantia nigra (SNG) and the midbrain tegmentum (MBT). The crc is found in the human ( Crosby-1962 ), macaque ( Oertel-1969 ), rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and mouse ( Paxinos-2001 ). In functional models, it is the part of the corticospinal tract (cst) that passes through the midbrain (MBR). Updated 27 Nov 2025.

Also known as: cerebral peduncle, cerebral peduncle, basal part, cerebral crus, Crus cerebri, Basis pedunculi cerebri (Willis), Basis cerebri (Oertel), Basis pedunculi (Oertel), Pes pedunculi, Pes pedunculi of midbrain, Pars neo-encephalica pedunculi, Crura cerebri, cerebral peduncle (clinical definition), Pedunculus cerebri, pars basalis, crus of the cerebral peduncle, crus cerebri

NeuroNames ID: 539

All Names & Sources

Showing 33 synonym(s)

Language
Name
Source
English
cerebral crus
English
cerebral crus
English
cerebral peduncle
English
cerebral peduncle
English
cerebral peduncle (clinical definition)
English
cerebral peduncle, basal part
English
crus cerebri
English
crus of the cerebral peduncle
Species With The Structure
Equivalent By Human Macaque Rat Mouse
Topology Has The Structure Has The Structure Has The Structure Has The Structure

Showing 15 record(s)

Basis
Has Equivalent
Organism
Their Name
Source
Topology
Yes
Basis pedunculi cerebri (Willis)
Topology
Yes
cerebral crus
Topology
Yes
cerebral peduncle (clinical definition)
Topology
Yes
Crura cerebri
Topology
Yes
Crus cerebri
Topology
Yes
Pars neo-encephalica pedunculi
Topology
Yes
Pedunculus cerebri, pars basalis
Topology
Yes
Pes pedunculi
Topology
Yes
Pes pedunculi of midbrain
Topology
Yes
Basis cerebri (Oertel)
Topology
Yes
Basis pedunculi (Oertel)
Topology
Yes
Pes pedunculi
Topology
Yes
cerebral peduncle
Topology
Yes
cerebral peduncle, basal part
Models Where It Appears
Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

Functional CNS Model - Rat

The Functional CNS Model - Rat (FMrat) ( Swanson-2004) is one of three hierarchical models representing the internal organization of the central nervous system (CNS). The others are the Structural CNS Model - Human (SThmn) and the Functional CNS Model - Human (FMhmn). The FMrat model represents the basic organization of the mouse ( Hof-2000 AMBA-2024 ) and, presumably, other rodents. Functional CNS models differ from structural models in that structures are defined and named by connectivity rather than by proximity to other structures at the same level. Functional models are more useful for representing longitudinal components of are grouped based on information drawn from multiple neuroscientific disciplines. such as connections, neurochemical characteristics, and role in physiogical and behavioral processes. While the Functional Model was developed primarily for an atlas of the rat brain ( Swanson-2004 ), the hierarchical organization of structures is for the most part applicable to the human, macaque, mouse and other mammalian brains as well. Structures at lower levels of the Functional CNS hierarchy are largely the same as in the Classical and Developmental Models, i.e., they were originally identified by stains for gray matter (Nissl substance) and white matter (myelin). At the next higher level they are grouped into basic connectional and functional systems of the CNS, such as the subcortical sensory systems, the brainstem motor system and the behavioral state system. At the highest levels CNS structures are grouped on the basis of dissection and embryologic precursors into cerebrum ( cerebral cortex and cerebral nuclei ), cerebellum, and cerebrospinal trunk.