Hypothalamus & Limbic System Flashcards
Hypothalamus is involved in the mediation of:
- Autonomics
- Neuroendocrine (Pituitary and Pineal Glands)
- Behavioral functions
Structures located near Hypothalamus:
- Epithalamus
- Mammillary body (posteroinferior)
- Anterior Commissure
- Optic Chiasm
- Infundibulum with Pituitary Gland
- Forms floor and inferior walls of third ventricle
Anteromedial Hypothalamus produces ____ activity
Parasympathetic
(ex. satiety, sleep, heat dissipation to decrease temperature)
Posterolateral Hypothalamus produces _____ activity
Sympathetic
(ex. hunger, wakefulness, heat conservation to increase body temperature)
What Nuclei are located in the Hypothalamus?
- Lateral
- Anterior
- One in the PreOptic area
- Suprachiasmatic
- Paraventricular
- Ventromedial
- Posterior
- Arcuate
- Supraoptic
Lateral Nucleus of Hypothalamus
- Sense a drop of glucose (hunger)
- Lesion makes you Lean
Anterior Nucleus of Hypothalamus
- Cooling via Parasympathetic
- Sense elevation of temperature
- Increases sweating and dilates superficial vessels
Nuclei in Preoptic Area of Hypothalamus
- Releases GnRH
- Influences reproduction and sexual behavior
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus of Hypothalamus
- Circadian rhythm
- Can function independently
- Can be regulated by the Ganglion Cells of CN II
Paraventricular Nucleus of Hypothalamus
Produces Oxytocin and ADH
Ventromedial Nucleus of Hypothalamus
- Sense elevated glucose (satiety)
- Lesion makes you Very Massive
Posterior Nucleus of Hypothalamus
- Senses temperature drop (heating)
- Has sympathetic center
Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus
Secretes Dopamine directly to the Pituitary Gland where it inhibits prolactin secretion in adenohypophysis
Supraoptic Nucleus of Hypothalamus
- Secretes ADH and Oxytocin
- Senses drop in water concentration (thirst)
- Located in Posterior Pituitary Gland
The major efferents of Suprachiasmatic Nucleus project to the ___ ___
Pineal Gland
During the night, fibers from the SCN release ___ in the Pineal Gland which stimulate the pinealocytes, triggering the production of ____
- NE
- Melatonin
Supraopticohypophysial Tract
Axons carry ADH and Oxytocin into Posterior Pituitary where it is stored in Herrying Bodies and released if needed (i.e hypothalamus osmoreceptors sense lack of water in blood and CSF)
Two main pathways from the Hypothalamus that are the source of most of the central control of autonomic functions:
- Medial Forebrain Bundle
- Dorsal Longitudinal Fasciculus
The Medial Forebrain Bundle and the Dorsal Longitudinal Fasciculus connect the Hypothalamus with:
the major parasympathetic nuclei in the brain stem and the preganglionic (central) neurons of the thoracolumbar spinal cord
Medial Forebrain Bundle
- Anterior area for parasympathetic activity
- Goes to S2-S4
Dorsal Longitudinal Fasciculus
- Sympathetic
- Major output pathway of the hypothalamus that descends through the gray matter of the brain stem and into the spinal cord T1-L2
Lesion of hypothalamus is noticeable mostly in ____ lesion
Bilateral
- Typically results in autonomic and neuroendocrine dysfunction (ex. temperature, thirst, etc)
4 Main Limbic Structures
- Amygdala
- Hippocampus
- Cingulate Gyrus
- Parahippocampal Gyrus
Importance of Limbic Structures
- Emotional responses
- Drive-related behavior
- Memory
- Smell
Fornix
- White matter between lateral and 3rd ventricles
- Connects hippocampus to mammillary bodies