Hypothalamus, Thalamus, RAS Flashcards

1
Q

Explain the boundaries of the hypothalamus.

A
Dorsal - sulcus limitans
Medial - third ventricle
Rostral - lamina terminalis
Ventral - infundibulum
Caudal - posterior mammillary bodies
Lateral - no precise lateral border
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2
Q

Half way between the optic chiasm and mamillary bodies and represents the median eminence.

A

infundibulum

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3
Q

Functions of the hypothalamus.

A

blood osmolality (chemoreceptors), blood pressure control (carotid sinus), childbirth and lactation (oxytocin and prolactin), thermoregulation, food/fluid intake and output control, emotional control (motor aspects), sex drive (sexual orientation/behaviors)

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4
Q

Dysfunction in hypothalamus causing uncontrollable eating.

A

Prader Willi syndrome

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5
Q

Two pathways of the infundibulum to the pituitary.

A

Posterior: neural - contains axons that communicate with posterior portion of pituitary gland
Anterior: vascular - “hypothalamic portal system” and carries hormones through vasculature to anterior portion pituitary

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6
Q

Hypothalamic nuclei in the pre-optic and supraoptic tier.

A

suprachiasmatic nuclei, preoptic nuclei, anterior nuclei, paraventricular nuclei

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7
Q

Hypothalamic nuclei in the tuberal tier.

A

ventral nuclei, lateral nuclei, dorsal nuclei

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8
Q

Hypothalamic nuclei in the mamillary tier.

A

posterior nuclei and mamillary bodies

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9
Q

What is medial to the pairs of nuclei in the hypothalamus?

A

third ventricle

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10
Q

Functions of Pre-Optic Tier/Nuclei.

A

bladder control, heart rate, temperature

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11
Q

Functions of Supraoptic Tier/Nuclei.

A

water conservation, oxytocin release

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12
Q

Functions of Tuberal Tier/Nuclei.

A

thirst/hunger, emotions/rage

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13
Q

Functions of Mamillary Tier/Nuclei.

A

blood pressure, feeding reflexes, shivering/sweating

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14
Q

Connections of hippocampus.

A

connected via fornix to septal nuclei (ant. commissural fornix) and to mammillary nuclei (postcommissural fornix); connected via nuclei to anterior nucleus of the thalamus and via that to cingulate gyrus (limbic system)

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15
Q

Anterior Lobe: Adenohypophysis (Pituitary)

A

Hypothalamo-hypophyseal Portal System: made of intricate channels (venous) of released hormones from various nuclei of hypothalamus trophic hormones are released from pituitary into the body for physiological responses

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16
Q

Which tiers are primarily connected to the anterior pituitary?

A

pre-optic and tuberal tier

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17
Q

Posterior Lobe: Neurohypophysis (Pituitary)

A

Hypothalamo-hypophyseal Tract: from paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus to posterior pituitary; direct neuronal synapses in posterior pituitary

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18
Q

Hypothalamus is major controller of our _________ system.

A

endocrine (homeostatic mechanisms)

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19
Q

Neurotransmitters released from posterior pituitary?

A

ADH and oxytocin

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20
Q

The release of trophic hormones from the anterior lobe of the pituitary is considered a fast/slow response.

A

slow

21
Q

The release of ADH from the posterior lobe of the pituitary is considered a fast/slow response.

A

fast

22
Q

Explain the feedback loops to the hypothalamus for endocrine function.

A

short feedback loops: pituitary to hypothalamus
long feedback loops: endocrine organs/visceral organs to hypothalamus (neural - visceral organs to the brain and then to hypothalamus; metabolic - electrolytes, pH, CO2 receptors then to hypothalamus

23
Q

Composes the diencephalon.

A

hypothalamus, thalamus, epithalamus (optic nerves and tract are an extension of the diencephalon)

24
Q

Epithalamus

A

posteriorly above the thalamus and interconnected to the hypothalamus & septum basal forebrain (stria terminalis pathway)

25
Q

Boundaries of the thalamus.

A

medial boundary: third ventricle
dorsal boundary: epithalamus
lateral boundary: internal capsule (posterior limb)
inferior boundary: hypothalamus

26
Q

True/false: All sensory systems go through the thalamus.

A

false - all except smell

27
Q

General physiological features of the thalamus.

A

chief sensory and motor relay station, multimodal integration, input/output modulation, alertness

28
Q

Separates the anatomical divisions of the thalamus.

A

Y shaped white matter band called intramedullary lamina

29
Q

What is the largest division of the thalamus?

A

lateral (closest to posterior limb of internal capsule)

30
Q

Interthalamic nuclei - (subdivisions of the lateral division of the thalamus)

A

1: nonspecific nuclei (archithalamus) - not associated with specific motor/sensory input, oldest portion of the thalamus
2: specific nuclei (paleothalamus) - associated with specific motor/sensory functions
3: association nuclei (neothalamus) - integration

31
Q

Archithalamus (midline)

A

modify visceral Input (heart, gut, sweat glands), get information about state of visceral organs (midline nuclear group); modify sensory inputs from musculoskeletal system (reticular); alertness and emotional responses to pain (intralaminar)

32
Q

Paleothalamus (lateral)

A

Ventral Anterior Nucleus (VA) - modify basal ganglia input, interconnection between basal ganglia and motor cortex
Ventral Lateral Nucleus (VL) - modifies cerebellar input from dentate nucleus
Ventral Posterior Nucleus (VPL/M) - modifies somatosensory Input from body (VPL) and head (VPM); if lesion existed, pt would present with no sensations of body or head (homunculus)
Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGB) - modifies auditory input from cochlear to temporal lobes
Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGB) - modifies visual input from retina

33
Q

Neothalamus

A

Dorsal Tier Nuclei - sensory modification to association corteses (visual, auditory, visceral, etc)
Anterior Nuclei - sensory modification to limbic area (cingulate gyrus)
Dorsomedial nucleus - sensory modification to prefrontal cortex (affects executive function)
Pulvinar - sensory modification to occipital cortex (visual)

34
Q

Functional supersystems of the thalamus.

A

“Motor” Thalamus - VA / VL Nuclei, get information from basal ganglia and cerebellum (reentrant systems), both modify movement (DON’T cause it)
“Limbic” Thalamus - Anterior Nuclear Group
“Sensory” Thalamus - VPL/VPM, MGB, LGB
“Cognitive” Thalamus - Pulvinar, Dorsomedial nuclear group

35
Q

Explain how patients with thalamic lesions would present.

A

Extrapyramidal Motor Problems (difficult time controlling movement); Primary Sensory Deficits with Hyperpathic Components (exaggerated sensations); Emotional Disorders (commit suicide); Disorders of Cognitive Function (pt. no longer behave in normal ways)

36
Q

Where is the reticular activating system located?

A

neural networks through the brainstem, between medulla and midbrain

37
Q

Nuclear groups of the reticular activating system.

A

Raphe (midline) Nuclear Groups (serotonin -sleep/wake cycle ascending to higher levels; enkephalin - pain modulation descending to lower levels of spinal cord)
Central Nuclear Groups (arousal, motor control will affect movement via the hypothalamus of the ANS)
Lateral Nuclear Groups (filter ascending/descending sensory information)
Pre-Cerebellar Groups (filter ascending/descending proprioceptive information

38
Q

Cellular morphology of the reticular activating system.

A

diffuse projections to both higher and lower levels; contain a single large cell body, large dendritic axonal area; two axons - one to higher levels (caudal) and one to lower (rostral) with multiple collateral branches, allows for fast conduction of information over large distances (BIPOLAR neurons)

39
Q

Ascending pathways of the RAS.

A

wakefulness/attention

40
Q

Descending pathways of the RAS.

A

pain control (allow you to keep functioning in pain during fight/flight)

41
Q

Lesions at the pons/midbrain with damage to both hemispheres.

A

coma

42
Q

Lesions at pons/medulla.

A

persistent wakefulness

43
Q

What occurs during synchronized (non-REM) sleep?

A

surge in serotonin (Raphe) and block eye movement, creates a synchronized EEG, and normal muscle tone

44
Q

What occurs during paradoxical (REM) sleep?

A

serotonin surge stops, surge of norepinephrine (locus coeruleus) - restoring eye movement, restore normal fast cortical waves, and shutdown muscle tone

45
Q

Which type of sleep is most beneficial to rejuvenate the body?

A

non-REM

46
Q

Sleep cycles are completed in about how many minutes?

A

90

47
Q

In which type of sleep might the vital signs fluctuate?

A

REM

48
Q

In which type of sleep is muscle tone normal?

A

non-REM