Diencephalon

Question 1

What nuclear subdivision of the diencephalon is related to the limbic system?

Answer 1

Anterior Thalamic Group

Question 2

Which nuclear subdivision of the diencephalon is the primary access to the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 2

Medial group
Medial group- limbic, association cortex, basal ganglia
Dorsomedial nucleus- major one

Question 3

Which nuclear subdivision of the thalamus is the relay nuclei for somatosensory and motor cortical areas

Answer 3

Lateral Group

• dorsal tier = pulvinar
• ventral tier = VPM(sensation from face), VPL (sensation from body), VL (output to motor and premotor cortex), VA (output supplementary motor cortex

Question 4

Which of the nuclear subdivision of the thalamus is associated with the reticular formation?

Answer 4

Intralaminar Group

Question 5

What is the blood supply to the Thalamus?

Answer 5

Ganglionic arteries off posterior cerebral artery

Question 6

What artery supplies the lateral regions of the thalamus and the internal capsule?

Answer 6

Thalamogeniculate a.

Question 7

What artery supplies the anterior and medial regions of the thalamus?

Answer 7

Thalamoperforating a.

Question 8

What are the 4 key functions of the thalamus?

Answer 8

1. Gated relay for transmission of all sensations except conscious proprioception
2. Integrating center for all sensory info
3. Dominant role in awareness
4. Integrative center for motor activity (basal ganglia and cerebellum)

Question 9

What are the 3 functional grouping of thalamic nuclei?

Answer 9

1. Cortical Relay Nuclei
2. Association Nuclei
3. Nonspecific Nuclei

Question 10

What functional grouping of nuclei of the thalamus is associated with receiving highly ordered sensory and motor in for and then relaying it in an accurate manner to specific sensory and motor cortices (VPM, VL, VA, VPA, LGN and MGN)

Answer 10

Cortical Relay Nuclei

Question 11

What functional grouping of thalamic nuclei receive little or no direct afferent from sensory or motor pathways but has extensive interthalamic connections and receive afferent from other subcortical nuclei (limbic). Project back to the association cortices. (Includes the pulvinar and dorsomedial)

Answer 11

Association Nuclei

Question 12

What functional grouping of thalamic nuclei is associated with behavioral arousal and sensory/motor integration, sleep. Reticular thalamic nucleus functions as inhibitory feedback regulator of thalamic neuronal activity gating sensory info.

Answer 12

Nonspecific nuclei

Question 13

This syndrome is characterized by sensations that are exaggerated, exceptionally unpleasant. Threshold is lowered for nociceptive stimuli and elevated for tactile and positional sense.

Answer 13

Thalamic pain syndrome

Question 14

What are the four functions of the hypothalamus?

Answer 14

1. Homeostatic influences necessary for life (cardiorespiratory, thermoregulatory, metabolic)
2. Control over the pituitary gland and ANS at the level of the brainstem and SC
3. Acts in reflexive manner receiving afferent visceral info
4. Influenced by higher centers, primarily limbic system and prefrontal cortex

Question 15

What are the three autonomic control areas of the hypothalamus?

Answer 15

1. Anterior hypothalamus
2. Lateral hypothalamus
3. Ventromedial hypothalamus

Question 16

Releasing hormones from the hypothalamus act on what portion of the pituitary gland?

Answer 16

Anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis)