MDR Stands for memory data register.
MDR is connected to the data bus.
Data can go in both directions: to and from memory,
therefore, MDR can load its data from
the data bus (for reading data)
one of the CPU registers (for storing data.)
A 2-1 MUX circuit selects input from one of the two.
Memory Circuitry:
More info: von Neumann Architecture article by Prof. Fabio Pellacini, Dartmouth College, NH.