Diencephalon II: Hypothalamus and Epithalamus

Question 1

The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are known as the ________________.

Answer 1

master endocrine glands

Question 2

What is a tissue or organ that secretes chemical signals to the bloodstream?

Answer 2

endocrine gland

Question 3

What are chemical signals called?

Answer 3

hormones

Question 4

Hormones regulate major physiological functions that allow organisms to maintain _____________.

Answer 4

homeostasis

Question 5

The hypothalamus is found in the _________ region of the diencephalon.

Answer 5

anterior

Question 6

The hypothalamus extends fibers to the ___________ , found inferiorly, at the base of the brain.

Answer 6

pituitary gland

Question 7

What is the pituitary gland also known as?

Answer 7

hypophysis

Question 8

The hypothalamus can be found caudal to the ___________ and rostral to the _____________-.

Answer 8

optic chiasm
mammillary bodies

Question 9

The ______________ is composed of many small, function‐specific nuclei.

Answer 9

hypothalamus

Question 10

The nuclei in the hypothalamus are anatomically divided into 3 groups:

Answer 10

1. anterior
2. medial
3. posterior

Question 11

The paraventricular and __________ nuclei regulate water volume and conservation
(getting thirsty, or not at all)

Answer 11

supraoptic

Question 12

The ________ hypothalamic nucleus regulates heat loss (shivering when it’s cold) .

Answer 12

anterior

Question 13

The _________________ nucleus regulates circadian rhythms (day and night).

Answer 13

suprachiasmatic

Question 14

The __________1_________and __________2________ nuclei regulate food intake and metabolism through “____1____” and “____2___” centers.

Answer 14

dorsomedial ; hunger
ventromedial ; satiety

Question 15

The __________ is the major neuroendocrine center of the hypothalamus.

Answer 15

arcuate nucleus

Question 16

The arcuate nucleus secretes a wide variety of _________________ and ________________.

Answer 16

neuropeptides and hormones

Question 17

What regulates the production of pituitary hormones?

Answer 17

hypothalamus

Question 18

The paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei project axons directly to the ____________ to release hormones directly in the peripheral blood.

Answer 18

posterior pituitary

Question 19

Neurons in other hypothalamic nuclei release hormones into __________________ vessels to regulate pituitary hormone secretion to the peripheral blood.

Answer 19

anterior pituitary

Question 20

The hypothalamus controls homeostasis by receiving info from the _______ and _________, and by regulating ____________________.

Answer 20

brain and body
physiological processes

Question 21

The hypothalamus receives _______________ from several brain regions.

Answer 21

afferents

Question 22

The hypothalamus receives metabolic and hormonal info from the _________.

Answer 22

Blood

Question 23

The hypothalamus regulates _________ secretion.

Answer 23

hormonal

Question 24

The _____________ is a small area located posteriorly and superiorly to the thalamus.

Answer 24

epithalamus

Question 25

The epithalamus is conformed by the ____________, the ___________________, and the _____________________.

Answer 25

1. habenula
2. stria medullaris
3. pineal gland

Question 26

What is formed by a pair of small nuclei located above the thalamus at its posterior end?

Answer 26

the habenula

Question 27

The habenula is divided into 2 parts:

Answer 27

1. lateral habenula
2. medial habenula

Question 28

The habenula receives afferents (sensory) from the _______________.

Answer 28

stria medullaris

Question 29

The stria medullaris is a fiber bundle that carries info from the ______________ and the ________________.

Answer 29

basal ganglia and the hypothalamus

Question 30

The habenula sends efferents (motor) to the ______________, and ____________________ and _______________ nuclei in the midbrain.

Answer 30

pineal gland
dopaminergic and serotoninergic nuclei

Question 31

The pineal gland is located at the posterior end of the _____________, and superior to the __________________________.

Answer 31

habenula
corpora quadrigemina

Question 32

The pineal gland produces the hormone ___________________ which is involved in sleep and circadian rhythm regulation.

Answer 32

melatonin