Editing Inferior colliculus (section)

{{Short description|Midbrain structure involved in the auditory pathway}}
{{Infobox brain
| Name            = Inferior colliculus
| Latin           = colliculus inferior
| Image           = Inferior colliculus - sagittal cut.jpg
| Caption         = Inferior colliculus (red dot) in human brain, [[sagittal section]].
| Image2          = Gray711.png
| Caption2        = Transverse section of mid-brain at level of inferior colliculi
| IsPartOf        = [[Tectum]]
| System          = [[Auditory system]]
| Components      =
| Artery          =
| Vein            =
}}

The '''inferior colliculus''' ('''IC''') ([[Latin]] for ''lower hill'') is the principal [[midbrain]] nucleus of the [[Auditory system|auditory pathway]] and receives input from several peripheral [[brainstem]] nuclei in the auditory pathway, as well as inputs from the [[auditory cortex]].<ref name="Shore">Shore, S. E.: ''Auditory/Somatosensory Interactions''. In: Squire (Ed.): ''Encyclopedia of Neuroscience'', Academic Press, 2009, pp. 691–695</ref> The inferior colliculus has three subdivisions: the central nucleus, a dorsal cortex by which it is surrounded, and an external cortex which is located laterally.<ref name="Shore"/> Its bimodal neurons are implicated in auditory-[[Somatosensory system|somatosensory]] interaction, receiving projections from [[Somatosensory system|somatosensory nuclei]]. This [[multisensory integration]] may underlie a filtering of self-effected sounds from vocalization, chewing, or respiration activities.<ref name="Shore"/> 

The inferior colliculi together with the [[superior colliculi]] form the eminences of the [[corpora quadrigemina]], and also part of the [[midbrain tectum]]. The inferior colliculus lies caudal to its counterpart - the superior colliculus - above the trochlear nerve, and at the base of the projection of the [[medial geniculate nucleus]] and the [[lateral geniculate nucleus]].