Ch.6 Diencephalon Flashcards
4 parts of Diencephalon
thalmus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, subthalamus
Largest part of diencephalon
Thalamus
Thalamus function
-Executive assistant to the cerebral cortex
-Sensory, motor, emotional
-All sensations synapse in thalamus before reaching cerebral cortex
What type of organ is thalamus considered?
Sensory
Reticular nucleus function
-controls activity of relay nuclei
-Determines signals sent to cerebral cortex
-Disorders here are linked to autism
Hypothalamus function
-controls autonomic nervous system
-Connects physiological responses to emotions
Input to hypothalamus
-Limbic system- emotional center
-Blood- blood glucose levels, hormones, blood temp
What organ controls the pituitary gland
Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland function
-receives signals from hypothalamus
-releases hormones to bloodstream
-This allows brain to regulate hormone secreation
Vasopresin (ADH)
-controls water balance in body
-causes reabsorption of water in the kidneys
-decreased urine production, blood vessels constrict, blood pressure increases
Oxytocin
-Causes contraction of smooth muscles
-Released in uterus/mammary glands during child birth/ breast feeding
Central autonomic fibers
-neurons that descend from hypothalamus to the brain/spinal cord
-this is how hypothalamus has control of autonomic nervous system
What part of hypothalamus cools our body temperature down?
Anterior hypothalamus by producing sweat and vasodilation of skin
What part of hypothalamus heats our body temperature up?
Posterior hypothalamus by causing shivering and vasoconstriction of skin
Diabetes insipidus cause
results from decreased production of ADH. So decreased water reabsorption in kidneys
