Diencephalon I: Thalamus

Question 1

The diencephalon is made up into three components. What are they called?

Answer 1

1. Thalamus
2. Hypothalamus
3. Epithalamus

Question 2

What does the thalamus do?

Answer 2

Relays and sorts input to and from the cortex via the thalamus

Question 3

What does the hypothalamus do?

Answer 3

Regulates homeostatic mechanisms via the hypothalamus

Question 4

What does the epithalamus consist of?

Answer 4

1. Pineal gland
2. Habenula

Question 5

What is the thalamus “known as?”

Answer 5

“The Gateway to the Cortex”

Question 6

The thalamus is the major relay point of the _____________ and _____________ fibers to and from the cortex.

Answer 6

ascending and descending

Question 7

The thalamus is comprised of _______ matter divided by two vertical sheaths of fibers called _____________.

Answer 7

gray
medullary laminae

Question 8

The medullary laminae divide the thalamus into 3 regions. Name these regions:

Answer 8

1. Anterior
2. Medial
3. Lateral

Question 9

The thalamus is subdivided into regions and these can be further divided into _______ or _________ portions. They have specific somatotopically organized inputs and outputs.

Answer 9

dorsal or ventral

Question 10

What is the name of the axons in the thalamus?

Answer 10

thalamocortical projections

Question 11

What regions are in the “posterior group” of the thalamus?

Answer 11

1. pulvinar nucleus
2. lateral geniculate nucleus
   (3. medial geniculate nucleus)

Question 12

What regions are a part of the “ventral group?”

Answer 12

1. ventral anterior nucleus
2. ventral lateral nucleus
3. ventral posterior nucleus

Question 13

Which nuclei regulate autonomic and limbic processes (emotions)?

Answer 13

Anterior
(anterior and ventral anterior)

Question 14

Which nuclei are involved in integration of sensory and emotional information?

Answer 14

Medial
(medial dorsal)

Question 15

Which nuclei has many specific nuclei for sensory, motor, and integrative information?

Answer 15

Lateral
(ventral lateral, ventral posterior, lateral posterior, pulvinar, lateral geniculate, medial geniculate)

Question 16

The VA nucleus receives information from the ___________ and sends information to the __________________ to initiate movement.

Answer 16

basal ganglia
prefrontal cortex

Question 17

Which Ventro- nucleus involves pre-motor info?

Answer 17

Ventroanterior

Question 18

Which Ventro- nucleus involves motor relays?

Answer 18

Ventrolateral

Question 19

The VL nucleus receives fibers from the ____________ and _______________ to fine-tune movement by regulating the ________________ and _________________-

Answer 19

basal ganglia and cerebellum

supplementary motor area and motor cortex

Question 20

Which Ventro- nucleus involves sensory relays?

Answer 20

ventroposterior

Question 21

The VP nucleus receives _________ from ________ ________ tracts and sends fibers to the somatosensory cortex.

Answer 21

afferents
spinal ascending

Question 22

The ____________is the largest nucleus of the thalamus.

Answer 22

pulvinar

Question 23

The pulvinar has strong connectivity with the __________ cortex.

Answer 23

visual

Question 24

The pulvinar receives visual information from the _____________ .

Answer 24

superior colliculi

Question 25

The _______________________ is a relay center for the visual pathway.

Answer 25

lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)

Question 26

The LGN receives direct visual information from the _________________.

Answer 26

optic tract

Question 27

What relays visual info to the visual cortex?

Answer 27

The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)

Question 28

What is the major auditory nucleus?

Answer 28

the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN)

Question 29

The MGN receives info from the ____________ and sends EFFERENTS to the auditory cortex.

Answer 29

CN VIII (vestibulocochlear)