Brain 4: Diencephalon

Question 0

What is Thalamus

Answer 0

relay station
Relays almost all sensory input to cerebral cortex
Paired oval masses of grey matter organized into nuclei with interspersed tracts with white matter

Question 1

Diencephalon contains

Answer 1

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus

Question 2

3 structures of thalamus

Answer 2

intermediate mass (interthalamic adhesion)
internedullary lamina
internal capsule

Question 3

Intermediate mass (interthalamic adhesion)

Answer 3

joins the right and left halves of the thalmus in about 70% of human brain. A bridge of grey matter

Question 4

Intermedullary lamina

Answer 4

A vertical Y-shaped sheet of white matter. Myelinated axons that enter and leave the various thalamic nuclei

Question 5

Internal capsule

Answer 5

Thick band of white matter lateral to the thalamus

Question 6

7 major groups of nuclei on each side of thalamus

Answer 6

1. anterior nucleus
2. medial nuclei
3. lateral group
4. ventral group (ventral anterior, lateral, posterior nucleus, lateral geniculate nucleus, medial geniculate nucleus)
5. intralaminar nuclei
6. midline nucleus
7. reticular nucleus

Question 7

Anterior nucleus of thalamus

Answer 7

receives input from the hypothalamus and sends output to the limbic system. it functions in emotions and memory

Question 8

Medial nuclei of thalamus

Answer 8

receives input from the limbic system and basal nuclei and send output to the cerebral cortex. They function in emotions, learning, memory and cognition (thinking and knowing)

Question 9

Lateral group of Thalamus

Answer 9

receives input from the limbic system, superior colliculi and cerebral cortex and send output to the cerebral cortex. Lateral dorsal nucleus: expression of emotions. Lateral posterior nucleus and pulvinar nucleus help integrate sensory info.

Question 10

Ventral anterior nucleus 1 of 5

Answer 10

receives input from the basal nuclei and sends output to motor areas of the cerebral cortex. It plays a role in movement control.

Question 11

Ventral lateral nucleus (2 of 5)

Answer 11

receives input from the cerebellum and basal nuclei and sends output to motor areas of cerebral cortex. It also plays a role in movement conctrol

Question 12

Ventral posterior nucleus 3 of 5

Answer 12

relays impulses for somatic sensations such as touch, pressure, vibration, itch, tickle, temperature, pain and proprioception from the face and body to the cerebral cortex

Question 13

lateral geniculate nucleus 4 of 5

Answer 13

relays visual impulses for sight from the retina to the primary visual area of the cerebral cortex

Question 14

Medial geniculate nucleus 5 of 5

Answer 14

relays auditory impulses for hearing from the ear to the primary auditory area of the cerebral cortex

Question 15

Intralaminar nuclei

Answer 15

lie within the internal medullary lamina and make connections with the reticular formation, cerebellum, basal nuclei of the cerebral cortex. Function in arousal (activation of cerebral cortex from the brain stem reticular formation) and integration of sensory and motor information

Question 16

Medline nucleus

Answer 16

forms a thin band adjacent to the third venticle and has a presumed function in memory and olfaction

Question 17

Reticular nucleus

Answer 17

surrounds the lateral aspect of the thalamus, next to the internal capsule. This nucleus monitors, filters and integrates activities of other thalamic nuclei

Question 18

4 regions of hypothalamus

Answer 18

Mammillary region
Tuberal region
Supraoptic region
preoptic region
hypothalamus controls many body activities and is one of the major regulators of homeostasis

Question 19

where and what is mammillary region

Answer 19

adjacent to midbrain
most posterior part
mammillary bodies (relay station for reflexes related to smell)
posterior hypothalmic nuclei

Question 20

where and what is tuberal region

Answer 20

widest part of hypothalamus
dorsomedial nucleus
ventromedial nucleus
arcuate nucleus
infundibulum and medial eminence - pituitary gland =hormone production

Question 21

where and what is supraoptic region

Answer 21

in front of optic chiasm
paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus - post pituitary
anterior hypothalamic nucleus
suprachiasmatic nucleus - circadian rhythms = internal clock, sleep-wake cycles

Question 22

where and what is preoptic region

Answer 22

regulates certain autonomic activities

contains medial and lateral preoptic nuclei

Question 23

Hypothalamus 6 important function

Answer 23

1. Control of ANS (cardiac mm, smooth mm, glands)
2. hormone production
3. Regulation of emotional and behavioral patterns
4. regulation of eating and drinking
5. control of body temperature
6. regulation of circadian rhythms and states of consciousness

Question 24

where and what is Epithalaums

Answer 24

consists of pineal gland and habenular nuclei
the pineal gland is part of the endocrine system because it secretes the hormone melatonin
habenular nuclei are Invovled in olafaction, especially emotional responses to odors

Question 25

what does monitor chemical changes in the blood and what it doesn’t have and where does it located

Answer 25

Circumventricular Organs (CVO) and it lacks blood brain barrier and it is part of hypothalamus, the penal gland and the pituitary gland in diencephalon

Question 26

What is the function of circumventricular organs

Answer 26

coordination of homeostatic activities of endocrine and nervous system