Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Limbic B&B Flashcards
what white matter tract is found directly next to the thalamus, and what is the clinical importance of this?
internal capsule - many thalamic lesions will damage these fibers, resulting in motor dysfunction/ hemiparesis
relay station for all sensations except smell
thalamus - sensory relay, consciousness, sleep, alertness
what are the 5 most important thalamic nuclei and their functions?
- ventral posterolateral (VPL): sensory relay
- ventral posteromedial (VPM): sensory face and taste relay
- lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN): vision relay (Lateral for Light)
- medial geniculate nucleus (MGN): hearing relay (Medial for Music)
- ventral lateral (VL): motor relay
what is the input and output of the ventral posterolateral (VPL) thalamic nuclei?
input: all sensory from spinothalamic tract, posterior column medial lemnisucs
output: somatosensory cortex
which thalamic nuclei takes input from the spinothalamic tract and medial lemniscus, and sends output to the somatosensory cortex?
ventral posterolateral (VPL) nuclei
what is the input and output of the ventral posteromedial (VPM) thalamic nuclei?
input: trigeminal (sensory face) and gustatory (taste) fibers
output: somatosensory cortex
which thalamic nuclei takes input from the trigeminal (sensory face) and gustatory (taste) fibers, and sends output to the somatosensory cortex?
ventral posteromedial (VPM) nuclei
what is the input and output of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus?
input: CN II (optic)
output: calcarine sulcus
which thalamic nuclei takes input from CN II, and where does it send it?
lateral geniculate nucleus: input from CN II, output to calcarine sulcus
what is the input and output of the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) of the thalamus?
input: hearing from superior olive and inferior colliculus of tectum
output: auditory cortex of temporal lobe
which thalamic nuclei takes input from the superior olive and inferior colliculus of tectum, and where does it send it?
medial geniculate nucleus (MGN): hearing input from superior olive and inferior colliculus of tectum, output to auditory cortex of temporal lobe
what is the input and output of the ventral lateral (VL) thalamic nuclei?
input: motor from basal ganglia
output: motor cortex
which thalamic nuclei relays to the motor cortex, and where does it get its input?
ventral lateral (VL) nuclei: takes motor input from basal ganglia, sends output to motor cortex
what type of stroke most often causes thalamic syndrome, and how does it present?
lacunar stroke —> complete sensory loss on contralateral side (face, arms, legs - all sensory modalities) because all sensation relays through thalamus (so this is the only place where this could happen)
Resolution can lead to long-term chronic pain on contralateral side (sensory exam will appear normal)
if a patient presents with complete sensory loss on one side of their body (face, arms, legs - all sensory modalities), where must the injury have occurred and why?
thalamic syndrome, most often due to lacunar stroke
all sensations (except smell) relay through thalamus - therefore, this is only location that could cause complete loss on contralateral side
what are the 4 major functions of the hypothalamus?
- autonomic control (SNS/PNS)
- temperature regulation
- water balance
- pituitary control
what are the 5 major hypothalamic areas and their functions?
- lateral - hunger
- ventromedial - satiety
- anterior - cooling [AC]
- posterior - heating
- suprachiasmatic nucleus - circadian rhythm
what would occur from a lesion of the lateral vs ventromedial hypothalamus?
lateral: drives hunger, lesion —> anorexia, failure to thrive in infants [Less hungry]
ventromedial: drives satiety, lesion —> hyperphagia, obesity [Very hungry]
what would occur from a lesion of the anterior vs posterior hypothalamus?
anterior = cooling (AC), lesion —> hyperthermia
posterior = heating, lesion —> inability to thermoregulate
which area of the hypothalamus controls circadian rhythm?
suprachiasmatic nucleus