CNS Flashcards
Where in the brain does the hypothalamus lie?
Below the thalamus and ventrolaterally to the third ventricle.
From which embryological region of the brain does the hypothalamus develop from?
Diencephalon - prosencephalon
What proportion of the human brain mass does the hypothalamus occupy?
<1%
Name the four main anatomical regions of the hypothalamus. (x4)
- Caudal region = mammillary group
- Intermediate region = tuberal group
- Rostral region = chiasmatic group
- Supraoptic
- Preoptic
What makes up the mamillary group?
Mammillary bodies and posterior hypothalamic nuclei. MV are two rounded projections serving as a relay station for reflexes related to the sense of smell.
Describe the tuberal group.
The widest part, including the:
- Dorsomedial (DMH)
- Ventromedial (VMH)
- Lateral (LHA)
- Arcuate (ARC) nuclei
- Ventral extension forming the infundibulum, encircled by the median eminence (ME), distally expands to form the neural lobe of the hypophysis (pituitary gland).
Describe the Superoptic region.
Lies superior to the optic chiasm and contains:
- paraventricular (PVN),
- supraoptic (SON),
- anterior (AHN) and
- suprachiasmatic (SCN) nuclei
Axons from the PVN and SON form the HP tract, extending through the infundibulum to the posterior lobe of the pituitary.
Describe the preoptic region of the hypothalamus.
Anterior to the SON, regulates certain autonomic activities. It contains the medial and lateral preoptic nuclei and rostral periventricular nucleus (the thin region immediately adjacent to the third ventricular wall).
Where is the rostral perioptic nucleus found?
A thin region immediately adjacent to the third ventricular wall
What are the main functions of the hypothalamus?
- Control of the ANS - GI, bladder and heart rate
- Production of relseasing hormones, ADH and oxytocin
- Regulation of emotion and behaviour
- Regulation of hunger and thirst
- Control of body temperature
- Regulation of circadian rhythms and states of consciousness
What effect does stimulation of the posterior and lateral hypothalamus have on the ANS?
Increases arterial pressure and heart rate
Describe the different areas at which the hypothalamus releases hormones into the pituitary.
- Diffuses into portal system (x2 capillary beds) and deposited into the anterior pituitary
- Diffusing into the capillary plexus of the infundibular process posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) - axons from SON and PVN
What afferent and efferent signals are processed and sent out by the:
- Mesencephalon
- Telencephalon
- Diencephalon
- Mesencephalon: Efferents backward and downward to the midbrain, reticular areas of the brainstem (RF)
- Telencephalon: Afferents from rhinencephalon, amygdala and globus pallidus of the basal ganglia; Efferents upward to the anterior thalamus and limbic portions of the cerebral cortex
- Diencephalon: Afferents from various thalamic nuclei; Efferents to the infundibulum
Stimulation of these areas of the hypothalamus can cause what changes in emotion and behaviour?
- LHA
- VMH
- Periventricular
- Most anterior and posterior most portions
- LHA - thirst and eating, increased general activity levels leading to overt rage and fighting.
- VMH - satiety, decreased eating and tranquillity.
- Periventricular region - leads to fear and punishment reactions.
- Anterior and posterior - stimulate sexual drive.
How does the hypothalamus control thirst?
Specific cells in the thirst centre of the LHA are stimulated by rising osmotic pressure of the extracellular fluid (ECF; fluid electrolytes here become too concentrated), causing the sensation of thirst.
Explain how the hypothalamus regulates circadian rhythm.
The SCN establishes patterns of awakening and sleep that occur on a circadian schedule (cycle of about 24 hours). It receives input from the eyes (retina) and sends output to other hypothalamic nuclei, the reticular formation [RF in the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)], and pineal gland.
Name the sensory tract of the CNS associated with pain perception.
Spinothalamic
Name the sensory tracts of the CNS and what they are sensory for.
Where does wach tract decussate?
- Dorsal column - touch and pressure - decussates at midbrain
- Spinothalamic - pain - decussates at the level of the spinal cord
Name the three types of deep (true) pain.
- Chemical
- Mechanical
- Temperature
- Heat >45oC
- Cold <xoc></xoc>
Which type of sensory receptors are responsible for picking up and transmitting pain signals?
Name four subtypes.
Free Nerve endings
- A alpha
- A beta
- A delta
- C-fibres
Order the subtypes of free nerve endings in order of how fast they can transmit signals.
Which type is unmyelinated?
- A alpha - 72-120 m/s
- A beta - 36 - 72 m/s
- A delta - 4 - 36 m/s
- C-fibres - 0.4 - 2 m/s - unmyelinated
What is the role of inflammatory mediators in pain perception?
Inflammatory mediators are released from damaged tissue and can stimulate nociceptors directly.
Or they can also cause primary sensitisation by reducing the activation threshold of nociceptors so that the stimulation required to cause activation is less.
This type of nociceptor is lightly myelinated and responds to mechanical and thermal stimuli. They carry rapid, sharp pain and are responsible for the initial reflex response to acute pain.
A delta