THALAMUS Flashcards
What are the 4 major divisions of the diencephalon?
- Epithalamus (pineal gland,etc)
- DORSAL THALAMUS (true)
- Subthalamus
- Hypothalamus
What are the 4 major divisions of the THALAMUS itself?
- Internal Medullary Lamina
- Intralaminal Nuclei.
- Thalamic Reticular Nucleus
- Midline Nuclei
What are the 3 functional groups of the thalamus?
- Specific/relay
- Association
- Non -Specific
What various nuclei fall within the 3 functional groups of the thalamus?
- Specific/Relay
- Association
- Non-specific
- VPL, VPM, VA/VL, MEDIAL GENICULATE, LATERAL GENICULATE, LD (lateral dorsal)
- Lateral Posterior
- Pulvinar
- Dorsomedial
- Intralaminar & Reticular
What is the function of the RETICULAR NUCLEUS OF THE THALAMUS? Which thalamic functional group does it fall in?
HiGHLIGHT certain novel/new sensory info, and ignore background info
(relays to other areas)
- NON -SPECIFIC group
(does not relay directly to cortex, only relay to THALAMUS)
Which nucleus does not relay directly to the CORTEX, but ONLY to the THALAMUS?
RETICULAR NUCLEUS
What are the afferents for the following THALAMIC NUCLEI, where do these nuclei project?
- VA/VL
- VPL
- VPM
- Medial Geniculate
- Lateral Geniculate
- Anterior
- Basal Ganglia/Cerebellum
- Medial Lemniscus/ STT of the BODY
- Medial Lemniscus/ STT of the FACE
- Inferior Colliculus
- Optic tract (Superior Colliculus)
- Mamillothalamic Tract
Where do these nuclei project? (efferents)
- VA/VL
- VPL
- VPM
- Medial Geniculate
- Lateral Geniculate
- Anterior
- Motor Areas (pre-central gyrus + frontal area)
- Somatosensory cortex
(AREA 312 of Post-central gyrus) - Somatosensory cortex
(AREA 312 of Post-central gyrus) - Auditory cortex (Transverse temporal gyri)
- Visual Cortex (occipital lobe –> calcarene fissure area 17)
- CINGULATE gyrus
What is the auditory cortex of the brain?
Transverse Temporal Gyrus
What is the only sensory information NOT traveling through the Thalamus?
SMELL
What is the function of the cerebellum?
coordinates voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination, and speech, resulting in smooth, balanced muscular activity.
- makes sure that motor functions you want to do HAPPEN (monitors & adjusts motor function)
What is the function of basal ganglia?
Coordination of motor activity between agonist and antagonist
ex: activates the bicep (agonist), i& inactivates the function of the tricep (antagonist)
What is the function of the thalamus?
Receives sensory information & passes this on either DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY
- decides what info to pass on
What are the majority of thalamic neurons?
MAJORITY = PROJECTION
rest = inhibitory
What type of inputs exist into the THALAMUS? Which of these 2 is the MAJOR input?
- Specific (ex: medial lemniscus pathway)
- use GLUTAMATE - REGULATORY
= MAJORITY!!
What is the major output and input of the thalamus?
Output = PROJECTION neurons
Input = REGULATORY
control thalamus & turn parts of it on/off