Diencephalon Flashcards
What are the parts of the Diencephalon?
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary
- Mammillary bodies
- Epithalamus (Pineal body)
What are the functions of ventroposterolateral nuclus of the thalamus?
Sensory from body and limbs
What are the functions of ventroposteromedial nuclus of the thalamus?
Sensory from face, taste
What are the functions of ventral anterior nucleus and ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus?
Motor info from BG, cerebellum
What are the functions of lateral geniculate body of the thalamus?
Visual from optic tract
L for the light
What are the functions of medial geniculate body of the thalamus?
Auditory from inferior colliculus
M for the music
What are the functions of anterior nuclear group of the thalamus?
Input - Mamillary nucleus (via mammillothalamic tract)
What are the functions of mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus?
(Dorsomedial nucleus). Involved in memory. Damaged in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
What are the functions of hypothalamus?
- homeostasis
- autonomic regulation
- endocrine regulation
- limbic system
What are the functions of Lateral hypothalamic nucleus?
Feeding center; lesion → starvation
What are the functions of Ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus?
Satiety center; lesion → hyperphagia, obesity, savage behavior
What are the functions of Suprachiasmatic hypothalamic nucleus?
Regulates circadian rhythms, receives direct retinal input
What are the functions of Supraoptic and
paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei?
Synthesizes ADH and oxytocin; regulates water balance
Lesion → diabetes insipidus, characterized by polydipsia and polyuria
What are the functions of Mamillary body?
Input from hippocampus; damaged in Wernicke encephalopathy
What are the functions of Arcuate hypothalamic nucleus?
Produces hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting factors and gives rise to tuberohypophysial tract
Has neurons that produce dopamine (prolactin-inhibiting factor)
What are the functions of Anterior region of hypothalamus?
Reacts to high temperature;
lesion → hyperthermia
Stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system
What are the functions of Posterior region of hypothalamus?
Reacts to low temperature;
lesion → poikilothermia (inability to thermoregulate)
Stimulates sympathetic nervous system
What are the functions of Preoptic area of hypothalamus?
Regulates release of gonotrophic hormones; contains sexually dimorphic nucleus
Lesion before puberty → arrested sexual development; lesion after puberty → amenorrhea or impotence
What will be the consequence of pineal tumor?
Parinaud syndome:
lesion to superior colliculi in Dorsal Midbrain => vertical gaze failure
What will be the consequence of antopsychotic drugs use?
Antipsychotic drugs inhibits secretion of dopamine (which inhibits prolactin secretion) => galactorrhea
