Zona Incerta

3D Model

After removing a section of the caudate nucleus, the internal capsule to its lateral side is exposed. Continuing the dissection inferolaterally, a complex network of fibers becomes visible caudomedial to the subthalamic area. These fibers are separated into dorsal (H1) and ventral (H2) sections by the zona incerta and converge rostromedially at field H. The zona incerta, seen as the rostral extension of the brainstem reticular formation, is situated in the caudal diencephalon. Its rostral portion lies adjacent to the dorsal side of the subthalamic nucleus, and positioned posterosuperiorly and slightly medial to it