export_diencephalon Flashcards
The cerebrum is composed of:
The diencephalon and the telencephalon
Anatomical borders of the diencephalon
Extends from the posterior commissure to the foramen of Monro.
Laterally it is bounded by the internal capsule, the tail of the caudate and the stria terminalis.
What are the components of the diencephalon
- Thalamus
- Epithalamus - 4 subcomponents
- Hypothalamus
- Subthalamus
- Metathalamus - medial and lateral geniculate bodies.
What are the 4 components of the epithalamus
- Habenular Trigone
- Pineal Gland
- Stria Medullaris
- Roof of the third ventricle.
What are the functions of the thalamus
- Integrate, correlate, and relay motor, sensory, visual, limbic and conscious systems.
- Interpretation and conscious perception of pain
- Enhance cortical areas
What structures divide the thalamic nuclei?
Thalamic medullary laminae.
The internal medullary lamina - between the medial and ventrolateral thalamic nuclei
The external medullary lamina - between the lateral and reticular nuclei.
Which thalamic nuclei comprise the anterior nuclear group?
- Anteroventral
- Anterodorsal
- Anteromedial
Features of the anterior thalamic nuclear group
They receive input from the mammillothalamic tract and fornix. Project fibers to the cingulate gyrus via the anterior limb of the IC.
These nuclei are involved in the regulation of visceral function.
Features of the mediodorsal group of thalamic nuclei
Lies between the IML and periventricular gray. Controls affective behavior and is disconnected in prefrontal lobotomies.
Receives input from the amygdala, orbitofrontal and temporal cortex. Projects to the frontal association cortex or prefrontal area and has reciprocal connections to the FEF.
Lesions here cause Korsakoff’s psychosis.
What are the nuclei which comprise the intralaminar nuclear group?
- Centromedial
- Parafascicular
- Rostral intralaminar
General features of the intralaminal group of thalamic nuclei
They receive input from the reticular activating system and output to the cortex diffusely.
It functions as a thalamic pacemaker for controlling electrical activities and wakefulness.
Input and output of the centromedial nuclei
Input: Area 4 - primary motor cortex
Output: Putamen
Input and output of the parafascicular nucleus
Input: area 6
Output: Caudate
Input and output of the rostral intralaminar nucleus
Input: Reticular formation
Output: Diffuse cortical areas
What are the midline thalamic nuclei and what structures do they output to?
The periventricular gray and the massa intermedia. They both output to the amygdala and the cingulate gyrus.
Output of the lateral dorsal thalamic nuclei
Cingulum and the supralimbic parietal lobe
Input and output of the lateral posterior thalamic nuclei
Input: Parietal lobe
Output: Areas 5 and 7
Pulvinar nucleus: Input and role.
- Gets input from the superior colliculus, reciprocal connections with the occipital, temporal and parietal cortex.
It is involved with extrageniculate visual pathways to secondary visual areas.
Three key visuotopic thalamocortical pathways
- LGB –> area 17
- Inferior pulvinar –> area 18
- Lateral pulvinar –> area 19