title: Three dimensional anatomy of the human nucleus accumbens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Nucleus accumbens (Acc) is the main structure of the ventral striatum. It acts as a motor-limbic interface, being involved in emotional and psychomotor functions, frequently disturbed in neuropsychiatric disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder and addiction. Most of the studies concerning the Acc were made in animals and those performed in humans are contradictory. Nevertheless, it has become a target for stereotactic deep brain stimulation for some of those diseases, when refractory to medical treatment. Previous studies performed by our group have established the localization, limits and dimensions of the human Acc and its stereotactic coordinates. Now it is our purpose to perform the Acc anatomical three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction in order to clarify its shape and topography and to render this nucleus a safer target for stereotactic procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anatomical coronal slicing of ten Acc from human brains was performed, perpendicular to the anterior commissure-posterior commissure line and to the midline; then the Acc contours were traced and its dimensions and 3D stereotactic coordinates measured, on each slice. Finally a 3D computerized model was created.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The human Acc was identified as a distinct brain structure, with clear-cut limits on its posterior half. It lies parallel to the midline, descends caudally, and progresses from a globose to a flattened and dorsolateral concave shape. Its main expression is subcomissural.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study defined more accurately the 3D anatomy of the human Acc, providing new tools for stereotactic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Anatomy Department, Lisbon Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal, lia_neto@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lucas-Neto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mourato
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rainha-Campos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonçalves-Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000601:surgery; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000601:surgery; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000601:surgery*