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52 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

Which brain structures project to the cortex via the thalamus?

- Spinal Cord
- Brainstem
- Cerebellum
- Basal Ganglia

What is the location of the Diencephalon embryologically? and in the developed brain?

- Between the Telencephalon and the Mesencephalon
- Between the cerebral cortex and the brainstem, medial to internal capsule
- Between the Telencephalon and the Mesencephalon
- Between the cerebral cortex and the brainstem, medial to internal capsule
What separates the Diencephalon into two pieces?
Third Ventricle
Third Ventricle
What are the subdivisions of the Diencephalon?
- EPITHALAMUS (habenula, pineal gland, posterior commissure)
- DORSAL THALAMUS / THALAMUS (thalamic nuclei, external and internal medullary lamina)
- VENTRAL THALAMUS (reticular nucleus and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus-vLGN)
- SUBTHALAMUS (zona i
- EPITHALAMUS (habenula, pineal gland, posterior commissure)
- DORSAL THALAMUS / THALAMUS (thalamic nuclei, external and internal medullary lamina)
- VENTRAL THALAMUS (reticular nucleus and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus-vLGN)
- SUBTHALAMUS (zona incerta and subthalamic nucleus)
- HYPOTHALAMUS (hypothalamic nuclei, infundibulum, hypophysis, hypophyseal portal system)
What are the components of the Epithalamus? Functions?
What are the components of the Epithalamus? Functions?
- Habenula - part of limbic pathway
- Pineal Gland - synthesizes serotonin and converts to melatonin
- Posterior Commissure - links pretectal and other nuclei of the two sides
- Habenula - part of limbic pathway
- Pineal Gland - synthesizes serotonin and converts to melatonin
- Posterior Commissure - links pretectal and other nuclei of the two sides
What are the components of the Dorsal Thalamus / Thalamus? Function/Location?
What are the components of the Dorsal Thalamus / Thalamus? Function/Location?
- Thalamic Nuclei - strong link to cerebral cortex
- External Medullary Lamina - myelinated fibers on lateral edge of thalamus
- Internal Medullary - myelinated fibers separating thalamus into medial and lateral parts
What are the components of the Ventral Thalamus?Location?
What are the components of the Ventral Thalamus?Location?
- Reticular Nucleus of Thalamus - external to ext. medullary lamina and internal to int. capsule (NAVY)
- Ventral Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (vLGN)
- Reticular Nucleus of Thalamus - external to ext. medullary lamina and internal to int. capsule (NAVY)
- Ventral Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (vLGN)
What are the components of the Subthalamus? Locations?
- Located between the hypothalamus and dorsal thalamus
- Zona incerta - rostral continuation of reticular formation of brainstem (GREEN)
- Subthalamic Nucleus - part of basal ganglia (PINK)
- Located between the hypothalamus and dorsal thalamus
- Zona incerta - rostral continuation of reticular formation of brainstem (GREEN)
- Subthalamic Nucleus - part of basal ganglia (PINK)
What are the components of the Hypothalamus? Location?
- Separated by hypothalamic sulcus
- Hypothalamic Nuclei (ORANGE)
- Infundibulum - stalk connecting the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
- Hypophysis - Pituitary gland
- Hypophyseal Portal System
- Separated by hypothalamic sulcus
- Hypothalamic Nuclei (ORANGE)
- Infundibulum - stalk connecting the hypothalamus and pituitary gland
- Hypophysis - Pituitary gland
- Hypophyseal Portal System
What is the function of the Hypothalamus?
What is the function of the Hypothalamus?
- Controlling center of ANS
- Neurobehavioral functions
- Regulation of hormones released by hypophysis
What is the blood supply to the thalamus?
Branches from Circle of Willis:
- Anterior Communicating Artery
- Posterior Communicating Artery
- Anterior Cerebral Artery
- Posterior Cerebral Artery
- Internal Carotid Artery
Branches from Circle of Willis:
- Anterior Communicating Artery
- Posterior Communicating Artery
- Anterior Cerebral Artery
- Posterior Cerebral Artery
- Internal Carotid Artery

What is the location of the Thalamus?

- Medial to the posterior limb of the internal capsule
- Surrounds the 3rd Ventricle (splits it medially)
What is the Thalamus derived from embryologically?
Diencephalon
What are the sensory functions of the Thalamus?
- Relays all sensory information to the cerebral cortex (olfactory input to thalamus is from the piriform cortex)
- Integrates sensory information from different modalities and projects to association cortex
What are the motor functions of the Thalamus?
Relays information about motor activities to the cerebral cortex
Aside from sensory and motor functions, what are the roles of the Thalamus?
- Relays emotional and affective information to cortex
- Part of "Papez circuit" of Limbic system - projects to limbic cortex
- Involved in control of alertness, arousal, and sleep
What circuit is the Thalamus apart of?
"Papez Circuit" - of the Limbic system - projects to Limbic cortex
What feedback control does the Thalamus experience?
Direct cortical feedback and control - reciprocal connections between thalamus and cortex
What are the SPECIFIC Relay nuclei groups / tiers of the Thalamus?
- Anterior Nuclear Group
- Lateral-Ventral Tier
- Lateral-Dorsal Tier
- Medial Group
"Anterior Nuclear Group"
- Specific/Non-Specific
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific
- Mammillary Body
- Cingulate Gyrus
- Limbic
What are the divisions of the Lateral-Ventral Tier of Specific Relay Nuclei of the Thalamus?
- VA = Ventral Anterior
- VL = Ventral Lateral
- VPL = Ventral Posterior Lateral
- VPM = Ventral Posterior Medial
- LGN = Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
- MGN = Medial Geniculate Nucleus
"VA = Ventral Anterior"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Ventral Tier
- Globus Pallidus
- Premotor Cortex (area 6)
- Motor
"VL = Ventral Lateral"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Ventral Tier
- Dentate Nucleus of Cerebellum
- Motor and Premotor (areas 4 and 6)
- Motor
"VPL = Ventral Posterior Lateral"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Ventral Tier
- Dorsal column (medial lemniscus and spinothalamic)
- Somatosensory Cortex (areas 3, 1, 2)
- Somatic Sensation (body)
"VPM = Ventral Posterior Medial"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Ventral Tier
- Sensory nuclei of Trigeminal N.
- Somatosensory Cortex (areas 3, 1, 2)
- Somatic Sensation (face)
"LGN = Lateral Geniculate Nucleus"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Ventral Tier
- Retinal Ganglion Cells
- Primary Visual Cortex (area 17)
- Vision
"MGN = Medial Geniculate Nucleus"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Ventral Tier
- Inferior Colliculus
- Primary Auditory Cortex (area 41, 42)
- Audition

What are the divisions of the Lateral-Dorsal Tier of Specific Relay Nuclei of the Thalamus?

- LD = Lateral Dorsal
- LP = Lateral Posterior
- Pul = Pulvinar

"LD = Lateral Dorsal"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Dorsal Tier
- Cingulate Gyrus
- Cingulate Gyrus
- Emotional Expression
"LP = Lateral Posterior"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Dorsal Tier
- Parietal Cortex
- Parietal Cortex
- Sensory integration
"Pul = Pulvinar"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Lateral-Dorsal Tier
- Superior colliculus, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes
- Parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes (POT)
- Integration of sensory information
"MD = Medial Dorsal"
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Specific - Medial-Dorsal Group
- Amygdaloid nuclear complex, olfactory, hypothalamus
- Prefrontal Cortex
- Limbic
What are the diffuse-projection nuclei (non-specific)?
- Midline nuclei
- Intralaminar Nuclei (CM - centro-median; CL - centro-lateral; PF - parafascicularis)
- Reticular Nucleus
Midline Nuclei
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Non-specific - diffuse projection nuclei
- Reticular formation and hypothalamus
- Basal forebrain
- Limbic
Intralaminar Nuclei
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Non-specific - diffuse projection nuclei
- Reticular formation, spinothalamic tract, globus pallidus, and cortical areas
- Basal ganglia and wide areas of cortex
- Role in pain, sleep, and wakefulness
Reticular Nucleus
- Specific/Non-Specific; Group/Tier
- Afferent Input
- Efferent Output
- Functions
- Non-specific - diffuse projection nuclei
- Cortex, thalamus, brainstem reticular formation
- Thalamic nuclei
- Modulation of thalamic activity
Which thalamic nuclei are involved in limbic functions?
- Anterior Nuclear Group (specific relay nuclei)
- Medial Group (MD) (specific relay nuclei)
- Midline Nuclei (diffuse-projection nuclei; non-specific)
Which thalamic nuclei are involved in motor functions?
- VA = Ventral Anterior
- VL = Ventral Lateral
- Both: lateral-ventral tier of specific relay nuclei
Which thalamic nuclei are involved in somatic sensory functions?
- VPL - Ventral Posterior Lateral (somatic sensation of body)
- VPM - Ventral Posterior Medial (somatic sensation of face)
- VPL & VPM: lateral-ventral tier of specific relay nuclei
- LP - Lateral Posterior (sensory integration)
- Pul - Pulvinar (sensory integration)
- LP & Pul: lateral-dorsal tier of specific relay nuclei
Which thalamic nuclei are involved in vision functions?
- Lateral Geniculate Nuclei (LGN)
- Lateral-ventral tier of specific relay nuclei
Which thalamic nuclei are involved in auditory functions?
- MGN - Medial Geniculate Nuclei
- Lateral-ventral tier of specific relay nuclei
Which thalamic nuclei are involved in emotional expression?
- LD - Lateral Dorsal
- Part of lateral-dorsal tier of specific relay nuclei
Which thalamic nuclei are involved in pain, sleep, and wakefulness?
- Intralaminar Nuclei: Centro-Median (CM), Centro-Lateral (CL), and Parafascicularis (PF)
- All part of Diffuse-projection nuclei (non-specific system)
Which thalamic nuclei are involved in modulation of thalamic nuclei?
- Reticular Nucleus
- Part of Diffuse-projection nuclei (non-specific system)
How do neurons interact in the Thalamic Neuronal Circuit?
- Afferent input projects to Thalamic Relay Neuron directly or indirectly via Thalamic Interneuron
- Thalamus connected bidirectionally with the Cerebral Cortex via Thalamic Relay Neurons
- Afferent input projects to Thalamic Relay Neuron directly or indirectly via Thalamic Interneuron
- Thalamus connected bidirectionally with the Cerebral Cortex via Thalamic Relay Neurons
What are the typical responses in the Sensory Thalamic Relay Neurons?
- Single cell response in VPL of human during therapeutic surgery
- Bursts of discharge in specific sensory relay nucleus of VPL
- Stimulus was a light stroke across the dorsum of the contralateral middle finger
What can cause Thalamic Syndrome?
- Vascular lesion or tumor (relatively rare)
- Damages lateral group of thalamic nuclei (VPL)
What are the symptoms of Thalamic Syndrome (damage to lateral group of thalamic nuclei)?
- Initially a transitory contralateral hemianalgesia
- Soon, painful sensations appear with noxious stimuli
- Later, pain is provoked by pressure, touch, and vibration
- Eventually, state of spontaneous, constant or paroxysmal pain evoked on affected side (contralateral to lesion) w/o any external stimulus = Dysesthesia
- Threshold for somatic sensation raised on affected side; once threshold reached, pain has strong emotional overtone to it
What does Dysesthesia mean?
- A state of spontaneous, constant or paroxysmal pain is evoked on the affected side (contralateral to the lesion) without any external stimulus
- An abnormal unpleasant sensation felt when touched, caused by damage to peripheral nerves
What can activate the non-specific system of the thalamus? Response?
- Repetitive, low-frequency stimulation of the non-specific thalamic nuclei
- Cortical recruitment response which waxes and wanes
- Controls level of excitability of neurons over wide areas of cortex
How are the non-specific nuclei of the thalamus connected?
Interconnected with each other and reciprocally with specific thalamic nuclei
What is the function of the Non-specific nuclei of the thalamus (reticular activating system- RAS)?
Controls level of excitability of neurons over wide areas of cortex