López-Muñoz Francisco, Marín Fernando, Alamo Cecilio
Departamento de Farmacología, Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Medicina, Alcalá de Henares, España.
Rev Neurol. 2010;50(1):50-7.
Throughout history, the special anatomical location of the pineal gland in the central nervous system has given rise to a number of physiological hypotheses regarding the functional role of this organ.
In classical ancient times, the pineal body (conarium) was considered to be a sort of valve-like sphincter that regulated the flow of the spiritus animalis at the ventricular level. But it was not until the 17th century that the pineal gland finally reached its highest levels of physiological significance, when Rene Descartes considered it to be the anatomical structure that housed the seat of the soul.
The Cartesian hypotheses regarding the pineal gland did not arouse much interest in the scientific community of the time, and attention to this organ dwindled from then until the 20th century, when its neuroendocrinological nature was finally confirmed.
纵观历史，松果体在中枢神经系统中的特殊解剖位置引发了许多关于该器官功能作用的生理学假说。
在古典古代，松果体被认为是一种类似瓣膜的括约肌，在脑室水平调节动物精气的流动。但直到17世纪，松果体才最终达到其最高的生理学意义，当时勒内·笛卡尔认为它是容纳灵魂所在的解剖结构。
笛卡尔关于松果体的假说在当时的科学界并未引起太多关注，从那时起直到20世纪，对该器官的关注逐渐减少，直到其神经内分泌性质最终得到证实。
