FB2026_03 , released September 17, 2026
CV Term Report
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General Information
Term anterior optic tubercle ID (Ontology) FBbt:00007059 (Fly Anatomy)
Definition Synaptic neuropil domain of the adult protocerebrum that receives extensive arborizations from visual projection neurons from the lobula and the medulla, projecting via the anterior optic tract. It protrudes from the anterior-most area of the ventro-lateral neuropils and is slightly detached from the ventro-lateral protocerebrum. This neuropil is absent from the larval brain, being formed during pupal development.[ FlyBase:FBrf0211016 FlyBase:FBrf0224194 ]
Also Known As"AOTU" ; "optic tubercle" ; "OPTU" (for all, see Synonyms field below)
CommentOtsuna and Ito (2006) suggest that the optic tubercle may be divided into three regions according to the density of arborizations. The medial-most (optu1) and lateral-most (optu3) contain dense arborizations of the Lcn10 neurons, whilst the area between these regions (optu2) is essentially devoid of the lobula columnar neurons.
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VFB:FBbt_00007059
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Insertions (FBti)EXPRESSION_STAGE_TISSUE_POSITION
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 anterior optic tubercle (all annotations which use CV term, excluding "NOT" statements)
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protocerebrum
 |__adult protocerebrum_________
adult cerebrum                  |
 |__ventrolateral neuropils_____|
multi-cell-component structure  |
 |__synaptic neuropil domain____|
synaptic neuropil               |
 |__synaptic neuropil domain____|
synaptic neuropil block         |
 |__ventrolateral neuropils_____|
adult neuromere                 |
 |__adult protocerebrum_________|
adult supraesophageal zone      |
 |__adult protocerebrum_________|
                                anterior optic tubercle  3094 rec.
                                 |__medial zone of anterior optic tubercle
                                 |__optic glomerulus of the AOTU
                                 |__small unit of anterior optic tubercle
                                     |__intermediate zone of anterior optic tubercle
                                     |__lateral zone of anterior optic tubercle
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Is a synaptic neuropil domain
Develops from embryonic/larval anterior optic tubercle primordial
Part of adult protocerebrum
ventrolateral neuropils
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VFB:FBbt_00007059