Anatomy: Thalamus and Internal Capsule Flashcards
What is the thalamus?
4x1.5x1.5cm egg-shaped mass of grey matter
Forms major part of the diencephalon
2 thalami- situated on each side of the third ventricle
Caudate nucleus sits closley on top of it
The posterior end of the thalamus is expanded to form the pulvinar
Label this
What are the medial and lateral relations of the thalamus?
Medial: forms part of the lateral wall of the third
ventricle. Connected to the opposite thalamus by a
band of gray matter called the interthalamic adhesion
Lateral: internal capsule
What are the inferior and superior relations of the thalamus?
Inferior -continuous with the tegmentum of the midbrain
Superior - Lateral to medial- caudate nucleus, stria terminalis, thalamostriate vein, fornix
What is the lateral ventricle?
Lateral ventricle loacted within the cerebral hemisphere
They communicate via the interventricular foramen to the third ventricle, which is a signular structure in the midline
The lateral and the medial recess further drain to the subarachnoid space.
Label and describe the structure of the lateral ventricle
red line is where the thalamus would sit
One lateral ventricle in the left hemisphere, one in the right. The lateral ventricles have three horns which project into the frontal, occipital, and temporal lobes.
What is shown by the black arrow? Describe it
Internal medullary lamina= sheet of white matter
dividing grey matter of the thalamus into medial and
lateral halves
The internal medullary lamina splits into a Y shape
The thalamus is divided into anterior, medial and posterior parts
Describe the anterior part of the thalamus
Contains anterior thalamic nuclei
Receives afferents from the mammillothalamic tract
Has connections w the cingulate gyrus + hypothalamus.
Function - emotional tone and recent memory.
Label this anterior part of the thalamus
Describe the medial part of the thalamus
Contains the dorsomedial nucleus
Receives afferents from Amygdaloid complex
Has connections w prefrontal cortex + hypothalamic nuclei.
Interconnected w all other thalamic nuclei.
Function: integrates somatic, visceral, and olfactory info, and relates this to emotion and subjective states.
Describe the medial part of the thalamus
Contains the dorsomedial nucleus
Receives afferents from Amygdaloid complex
Has connections w prefrontal cortex + hypothalamic nuclei.
Interconnected w all other thalamic nuclei.
Function: integrates somatic, visceral, and olfactory info, and relates this to emotion and subjective states.
Label the medial parts of the thalamus
Describe the lateral part of the thalamus
The lateral part of the thalamus contains the dorsal Tier of nuclei= lateral dorsal, lateral posterior nucleus and pulvinar.
This has interconnections with –
* other thalamic nuclei, parietal lobe, cingulate gyrus, occipital and temporal lobes.
Label this
What does the ventral tier of the nuclei contain?
Ventral anterior nucleus
Ventral lateral nucleus
Ventral posterior nucleus