Diencephalon and Brainstem

Question 1

The Brain

three major divisions:

Answer 1

cerebrum: telencephalon, diencephalon
cerebellum: metencephalon
brainstem: mes, met, myel

Question 2

Diencephalon:

located just above:
central
divided in half by

Answer 2

brainstem
core of the brain
vertical slit of the third ventricle

Question 3

Structures of the diencephalon

Answer 3

thalamus
hypothalamus
subthalamus
epithalamus

Question 4

Thalamus:

an ?
the two thalami are bridged by the ?

consists of ?

Answer 4

egg-shaped mass
masa intermedia (interthalamic adhesion) 

numerous nuclei, each has different function

Question 5

Basic functions of the thalamus:

sensory: all sensory information ( except…) is relayed by ?
motor: motor system outputs from ? are related by

emotion/memory: the thalamus is part of the ? and helps control some ?

vegetative: the thalamus has some ? associated with ? can be associated with

Answer 5

olfaction/cortex via the thalamus

basal ganglia and cerebellum/ thalamus

Papez circuit /emotional and memory information going to the limbic cortex (cingulate gyrus)

intrinsic nuclei / alertness and arousal/ disorders of consciousness

Question 6

Afferent projections:

Answer 6

receives input from many adjacent subcortical or brainstem nuclei

Question 7

2 examples of afferent connections:

mammillothalamic tract: connections between ?
involved with ?

Answer 7

thalamus and hippocampus via the mammillary bodies and fornix

memory and learning

Question 8

spinothalamic tract:
connections between
-lateral spinal thalamic tract

anterior/ventral spinothalamic tract

Answer 8

spinal cord and thalamus

pain and temperature

touch and pressure

Question 9

Efferent projections:

Answer 9

thalamus sends information to the cortex

Question 10

Role of thalamus in language and cognition

helps
involved in

Answer 10

mediate speech and language

memory and learning

Question 11

Thalamic lesion:

thalamic syndrome:
disorder of
increased or decreased

Answer 11

somatosensory function
-thresholds for touch, pain, temperature

subcortical aphasia

Question 12

Other diencephalon structures:

structures below the thalamus

Answer 12

hypothalamus
subthalamus
epithalamus

Question 13

Hypothalamus:

-

Answer 13

ventral most portion of diencephalon

extends from optic chiasm to mammillary bodies

Question 14

Diencephalon
function

oversees -
regulates 
influences
strong functional and structural relationship to 
involved in

Answer 14

autonomic nervous system and innervation of viscera

• homeostasis and hormones
• hormone release via pituitary gland (endocrine system)
• limbic system

4 F’s fighting, fleeing, feeding, and fornication

Question 15

Diencephalon: sub thalamus

also called
connected too ? - related to
sub thalamic nucleus destruction =

Answer 15

ventral thalamus
basal ganglia/ movement
involuntary pronounced powerful flailing movements
-hemiballism

Question 16

epithalamus: unusual - more ?
secretes various ?
receives simple information about ? helps with ?

composed of a pair of ? and a ?

Answer 16

gland than nervous structure

chemicals related to sleep-wakefulness (melatonin)

light and dark/circadian rhythmic information

nuclei (habenular nuclei) and a midline structure (pineal body)

Question 17

where is the hypothalamus located in relation to thalamus

Answer 17

below it

Question 18

The Brainstem:

connects the ?

consist of?

Answer 18

diencephalon to the spinal cord

midbrain
pons
medulla oblongata

Question 19

There are many /// emerging from?

Answer 19

cranial nerves / brainstem

Question 20

Midbrain:

the midbrain adjoins the ? and the ?

contains two ?

Answer 20

pons (caudally) / diencephalon (rostrally)

motor cranial nerves that control eye movements

Question 21

Pons:

.. in latin / provides major ?

contains many ?

Answer 21

bridge/ bridge to cerebellum

cranial nerve nuclei and descending motor fibers and ascending sensory fibers

Question 22

Medulla: contains ? descending to the ? and ? ascending to ?

Answer 22

motor fibers / spinal cord/ sensory fibers/ brain

Question 23

some nuclei located in the medulla form three vital reflex centers

cardiac center:

vasomotor center:

respiratory center:

Answer 23

regulates the rate and strength of heartbeat

monitors and alters the diameter of the blood vessels

controls the rhythm and rate of breathing

Question 24

Pyramids contain the ? also called?

a major ?

carries ?

decussation of the cortical spinal tract occurs in

Answer 24

cortical spinal tract / pyramidal tract

descending motor tract

motor information from the motor cortex to the spinal cord

medulla

Question 25

Decussation:

about .. of the descending fibers of the pyramidal pathway decussate at the level of ?

after decussation those fibers become the ?

this crossing of the corticospinal fibers accounts for the ?

Answer 25

90%/ medulla

lateral cortical tract

motor cortex of one side of the brain controlling the opposite side of the body

Question 26

Reticular formation:

network of ? that connects? and mediates

Answer 26

nerve pathways in the brainstem/ spinal cord, cerebellum, and cerebrum/ overall level of consciousness

Question 27

brainstem stroke:

difficulty 
difficulty 
problems with ? 
partial or ? 
blurry 
weakness in
...
...

Answer 27

speaking 
breathing 
chewing and swallowing (dysphagia) 
complete loss of hearing 
vision 
limbs
numbness 
paralysis