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28 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What type of structure is the hypothalamus and where is it located? |
-bilateral structure
-located anterior to the thalamus |
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What structure does the hypothalamus surround? |
the inferior portion of the 3rd ventricle |
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What size is the hypothalamus? |
-relatively small structure
-only 3-4 mm wide |
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What four general critical functions does the hypothalamus contribute to? |
1. controls the autonomic nervous system -through interactions with limbic and brainstem structures
2. maintains body homeostasis -body temp, sleep cycles, feeding behavior
3. regulates the endocrine system -through control of the pituitary gland
4. contributes to emotion and memory functions |
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What is the hypothalamus composed of? |
many nuclei |
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What are the two main kinds of nuclei found in the hypothalamus? |
-medial nuclei
-lateral nuclei |
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Which nuclei of the hypothalamus are relatively larger and have functions that are more well understood? |
medial nuclei |
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What divides the medial portion of the hypothalamus from the lateral portion? |
the columns of the fornix |
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What is an important tract associated with the hypothalamus? |
the medial forebrain bundle |
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The medial forebrain bundles contains connections between what structures and contributes to what? |
-the septal region, the hypothalamus, and the brainstem structures
-feeding behavior and autonomic signaling |
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What structures does the pre optic (rostral) region of the hypothalamus correspond to? |
structures that are superior to the optic chiasm |
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What are the four components of the rostral/preoptic region of the hypothalamus? |
1) preoptic nuclei
2) paraventricular nucleus
3) supraoptic nucleus
4) suprachiasmatic nucleus |
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What 3 things does the pre optic region of the hypothalamus contribute to? |
1) hormone synthesis and delivery of hormones through the posterior pituitary -drives reflex centers for thirst and parturition
2) parasympathetic response
3) temperature regulation -contains heat and cold sensitive neurons |
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What is the more specialized function of the suprachiasmatic nucleus? |
contributes to circadian rhythms via input from the optic nerve |
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The hypothalamus has many important connections with what glandular structure? |
the pituitary gland |
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What is a big difference between the posterior and anterior pituitaries other than location? |
-posterior pituitary = part of the hypothalamus (rather than a gland!)
-anterior pituitary = a gland |
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What is the function of the neurohypophysis? |
site of hormone release |
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What is the function of the adenohypophysis? |
directs other glands to produce many hormones affecting metabolism, stress response, blood pressure, sexuality, reproduction, and other functions |
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Pituitary tumors are _______ but usually _______. |
common but usually benign |
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What is the treatment for pituitary tumors if they are secretory? |
can be treated with hormone suppressing drugs |
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What is the treatment for pituitary tumors if they are pressing against the optic chiasm or the hypothalamus? |
in that case may require surgery |
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What is important about the proximity of the hypothalamus to the circumventricular organs? |
allows hypothalamic nuclei to sample blood for temperature, levels of glucose, salt, and etc. |
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What 3 circumventricular organs play a major role in allowing access and signaling hypothalamic nuclei? |
1) organum vasculosum of lamina terminalis
2) subfornical organ
3) median eminence |
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What do the paraventricular (PVT) and supraoptic (SO) nuclei contain? |
neurosecretory cells that synthesize vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH) and oxytocin |
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How are ADH and oxytocin transported? |
along the unmyelinated axons of the PVT and SO nuclei |
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What do the axons of the PVT and SO nuclei form? |
the supraopticohypophyseal tract |
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How do vasopressin and oxytocin access the general circulation? |
via fenestrated capillaries in the neurohypophysis |
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What organs do ADH and oxytocin bind to? |
organs with high concentrations of ADH or oxytocin receptors |
