Hypothalamus

Question 1

major function of the hypothalamus

Answer 1

• coordinate autonomic, endocrine, and somatic motor activities to maintain homeostasis and fulfill bodily needs
• temperature regulation
• water balance
• food intake
• digestion
• metabolism
• sex

Question 2

the ____ marks the anterior or chiasmatic region

Answer 2

-the optic chiasm

Question 3

the ___ marks the middle or tuberal region

Answer 3

-infundibulum

Question 4

the ___ marks the mammillary region

Answer 4

-mammillary body

Question 5

Name the 3 regions that the hypothalamus can be divided into in the mediolateral dimension

Answer 5

• periventricular nucleus along the third ventricle
• medial zone
• lateral hypothalamic area

Question 6

medial forebrain bundle

Answer 6

• relays information between the cortex, hypothalamus, and the brainstem
• contains the axons of the monoamine neurons innervating the forebrain
• supports the self-stimulation in animals

Question 7

reticular formation: give the general function and the efferent

Answer 7

General function: arousal

Efferent: reciprocal

Question 8

nucleus of the solitary tract: give the general function and the efferent

Answer 8

general function: visceral sensory

Efferent: recipricol

Question 9

retina: give the general function and the efferent

Answer 9

general function: circadian rhythms

Efferent: NOT reciprical

Question 10

olfactory bulb and cortex: give the general function and the efferent

Answer 10

gen. function: olfactory experience

efferent: NOT reciprical

Question 11

amygdala/hippocampus: give the general function and the efferent

Answer 11

gen. function: emotions (limbic); memory

efferent: reciprical

Question 12

cingulate cortex/septum: give the general function and the efferent

Answer 12

gen function: emotions (limbic)
efferent: reciprocal
gen function: memory
efferent: thalamus

Question 13

prefrontal cortex: give the general function and the efferent

Answer 13

gen function: multimodal, processed sensory
efferent: reciprocal
gen function: visceral motor
efferent: preganglionic neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord

Question 14

circulation, circumventricular organs (CVO)

Answer 14

general function: endocrine; regulatory

efferent: pituitary

Question 15

what structure provides afferents from reticular formation to the hypothalamus?

Answer 15

-dorsal longitudinal fasciculus

Question 16

what kinds of unprocessed, sensory information does the hypothalamus receive?

Answer 16

• retina to the suprachiasmatic nucleus

- olfactory bulb and cortex

Question 17

what non-neuronal substances does the hypothalamus respond to?

Answer 17

• glucose
• hormones
• blood osmolarity
• temperature

Question 18

exceptions to the hypothalamus reciprocity

Answer 18

• retinal and olfactory afferents
• thalamus
• preganglionic neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord
• pituitary gland

Question 19

dorsal longitudinal fasciculus

Answer 19

-hypothalamus axons that directly project to the preganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord

Question 20

why are specific functions of hypothalamic nuclei difficult to localize?

Answer 20

• small size
• close packing density
• complex patterns of afferent and efferent pathways
• many hypothalamic functions are carried out by extensive networks of mutually interconnected cells

Question 21

name the function associated with the anterior nucleus of the chiasmatic region

Answer 21

-thermoregulation; sexual behavior

Question 22

function of paraventricular region

Answer 22

projections to brainstem and spinal cord; projections to posterior pituitary

Question 23

function of preoptic “nucleus”

Answer 23

• thermoregulation
• sexual behavior
• sleep regulation

Question 24

function of suprachiasmatic “nucleus”

Answer 24

circadian rhythm regulation

Question 25

supraoptic “nucleus” functions

Answer 25

-projections to posterior pituitary