Lecture 8 - Thalamus and Cortex Flashcards
The thalamus is mass of ___ matter (bilateral) at centre of the brain.
gray
The thalamus forms the major part of the ______.
diencephalon
What connects the 2 thalamus together?
a band of gray matter, the interthalamic adhesion
The thalamus is located on either side of what structure?
third ventricle
What is the major function of the thalamus.
processing center: nearly all pathways projecting to cerebral cortex pass via synaptic relays in thalamus
T/F: The thalamus is a major sensory relay for all sensory systems.
False (doesn’t relay olfactory information)
What 4 (non sensory) structures/systems communicate with the thalamus.
- cerebellum
- basal ganglia
- limbic system
- reticular activating system
T/F: The projections that run between the thalamus and the cortex are unidirectional.
False (bidirectional)
What are the 2 types of projections that thalamic neuclei send to the cortex?
specific and diffuse
What are the 2 functional classes of the thalamic nuclei?
- Relay Nuclei
2. Diffuse Projection Nuclei
What is the role of the relay nuclei?
- receive inputs and project to cortex
- receive recurrent input back from cortex
- most project to a specific,local region of cerebral cortex
What kind of thalamic nuclei would project onto the primary motor area?
Relay nuclei (b/c specific area of cerebral cortex
What is the role of the diffuse projection nuclei?
have more widespread projections than relay nuclei
What kind of thalamic nuclei would project onto the reticular system?
Diffuse projection nuclei
Structurally, the thalamic nuclei are separated into what 3 groups?
anterior, medial, and lateral
The thalamic nuclei are physically separated by what structure?
internal medullary lamina
T/F: The internal medullary lamina is composed of grey matter.
False (white matter)
Which thalamic nuclei have projections to the limbic pathway?
anterior and medial nuclear gps
The intralaminar nuclei is a relay nuclei.
False (diffuse)
The intralaminar nuclei is a relay station for motor pathways between what structures?
basal ganglia and cerebellum to cortex
Is the lateral nuclear gp a relay nucleus or a diffuse projection nucleus?
relay nucleus
The lateral nuclear gp is a relay station for what?
somatosensory inputs to cortex
basal ganglia and cerebellarinputs to motor areas of cerebral cortex
The lateral nuclear group houses what 2 other nuclei responsible for sensory information?
lateral and medial geniculate nucleus
What is the role of the lateral geniculate nucleus?
relays incoming visual information to visual cortex of occipital lobe
What is the role of the medial geniculate nucleus?
relays incoming auditory information to auditory cortex of temporal lobe
The ventral posterior lateral nucleus is part of what larger thalamic nucleus?
lateral nuclear gp
The ventral posterior lateral nucleus relays information from where and projects to where?
relays from somatosensory info coming in through the spinal cord; projects to primary somatosensory cortex
The motor pathways from the basal ganglia and the cerebellum relay to which 2 nuclei?
ventral lateral and ventral anterior nucleus
Where do the fibers from the ventral lateral and ventral anterior nuclei project?
Motor cortex
A pt had an ischemic stroke which affected the thalamus. The specific location of the infarct wasn’t noted within her charts but you suspect which one of which 2 arteries?
Posterior Cerebral Artery
Anterior Choroidal Artery