Diencephalon and Internal Capsule Flashcards
What is the function of the diencephalon?
Relay station for majority of motor and sensory connections - takes in information and sends it back out
What are the five structures of the diencephalon?
Thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus (pineal gland), subthalamus, and pretectum
What is the information order regarding the thalamus?
Thalamus takes information from the basal ganglia and the cerebellum and sends it to the cerebral cortex
What is the function of the thalamus?
Relay station for sensory and motor information from cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and the limbic system - regulates flow of information to the cortex
What are the three functional groups of the thalamic nuclei?
Relay nuclei, association nuclei, and nonspecific nuclei
What is the function of the relay nuclei?
Convey information from the sensory system, basal ganglia, and cerebellum - majority of the nuclei
What is the function of the association nuclei?
Process emotional and some memory information or integrate different types of sensation
What is the function of the nonspecific nuclei?
Regulates consciousness, arousal, and attention - brainstem activity
What kind of projection do the thalamic nuclei produce?
Projection to ipsilateral cerebral cortex (no crossing)
What are the four types of sensory relay nuclei and what are they associated with?
VPL (ventral posterolateral) - input from trunk and limbs
VPM (ventral posteromedial) - taste and vestibular
MG (medial geniculate) - auditory
LG (lateral geniculate) - visual
What are the two motor relay nuclei?
VA (ventral anterior) and VL (ventral lateral)
What are the five types of association nuclei and what are they associated with?
AN (anterior nucleus) - limbic system and emotions
LD (lateral dorsal) - limbic system and emotions
MD (mediodorsal) - mood and emotions
LP (lateral posterior)
P (pulvinar)
What is the blood supply to the thalamus?
Posterior cerebral artery (PCA)
What type of pathways are interrupted from lesions to the thalamus?
Ascending pathways
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
Integrates behaviors with visceral functions, maintains homeostasis, eating, reproductive, and defensive behaviors, regulates circadian rhythms, emotional expression of pleasure, rage, fear, and adversion, and endocrine regulation
What is regulated in the middle (tuberal) hypothalamus?
BP, HR, and satiety
What is the blood supply to the hypothalamus?
Branches of both the ACA and PCA
Where is the choroid plexus located?
Epithalamus
Where is the pineal gland located?
Epithalamus
What is the function of the pineal gland?
Regulates circadian rhythms and secretes melatonin
What is the function of the subthalamus?
Involved in regulating movement - rhythmic movement
What is the function of the pretectum?
Receives binocular input - pupillary light reflex
What is the function of the internal capsule?
Route through which thalamic fibers pass to and from the cortex - highway for axons
What does the gray and white mater contain?
Gray = cell bodies White = axons
