Diencephalon:

Thalamus and Hypothalamus

January 13, 2009

Diencephalon
Relay between the brainstem & cerebral cortex
Dorsal-posterior structures
Epithalamus
Habenular nuclei integrate smell & emotions
Pineal gland monitors diurnal / nocturnal rhythm

Thalamus
Metathalamus
Medial geniculate body auditory relay
Lateral geniculate body visual relay

Ventral-anterior structure
Hypothalamus

Function of the Thalamus

Sensory relay
ALL sensory information
(except smell)

Motor integration
Input from cortex,
cerebellum and basal
ganglia

Arousal
Part of reticular activating
system

Pain modulation
All nociceptive information

Memory & behavior

Lesions are disruptive

Input to the Thalamus

Input to the Thalamus

Metathalamus
Vision and Hearing

Input to the Thalamus

Sensory relay - Ventral posterior group

all sensation from body and head, including pain

Input to the Thalamus

Motor control and integration

Input to the Thalamus

Behavior and emotion

connection with hypothalamus

Projections from the

Thalamus

Metathalamus
Vision and Hearing

Proyecciones desde el
Tlamo

Sensory relay
Ventral posterior group
all sensation from body and head,
including pain.

Projections from the

Thalamus

Motor control
and integration

Projections from the

Thalamus
Behavior and emotion
connection with hypothalamus

Thalamus:

axial view

Descending upper motor neurons

Cerebral peduncles

Internal capsule

Thalamus:

axial view

Thalamus:

Pons

sagittal view

Thalamus:

sagittal view

Thalamus:

coronal view

Thalamus:

coronal view

3rd ventricle

Thalamus:

coronal view

Internal capsule

Thalamus:

coronal view

Cerebral
peduncles

Internal capsule

Thalamus:

coronal view

Dorsomedial nucleus has

reciprocal connections to
prefrontal cortex.
Concerned with judgment,
decision making, memory
and behavior.

Mediodorsal nucleus

Internal capsule

Thalamus

Ventral
lateral
nucleus

Mediodorsal nucleus

VL nucleus has reciprocal

connections with primary motor
cortex. It receives input from
cerebellar nuclei.
With VA nucleus (which receives
input from basal ganglia)
contributes to planning and
control of movement.

Internal capsule

Thalamus:

blood supply

Hypothalamus
Located ventral-anterior to
thalamus.

(Subthalamus, located
ventral to thalamus, will be
discussed with basal
ganglia.)

Hypothalamus

Coronal view

Hypothalamus

Sagittal view

Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

Optic chiasm

Hypothalamus

Pituitary Gland

Hypothalamus

Mammillary body: termination of fornix

Hypothalamus

Fornix: part of the limbic system

Hypothalamus

Coronal view
Lateral view

Fornix to mammillary bodies

Hypothalamus:

sagittal view

Hypothalamus:

sagittal view

Hypothalamus:

sagittal view

Hypothalamus:

sagittal view

Connects temporal lobes, sharing olfactory and audiovisual information

Hypothalamus:

coronal view
(rostral to caudal)
MAMMILLARY
TUBERAL
SUPRACHIASMATIC

PRE-OPTIC

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Pre-Optic Region

Gonadotropic releasing
hormone
Sexual arousal, appetite,
reproduction

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Suprachiasmic Region

Secrete ADH, oxytocin

Transported via axons to
posterior pituitary
(hypophysis)

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Regulates thirst

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Body temperature
Circadian rhythms

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Tuberal Region

Satiety

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Regulates prolactin
and growth hormone
endorphin for pain

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Mammillary region

Limbic system

Hypothalamus:

coronal view

Hypocretin
(orexin)
Narcolepsy,
reward

Hypothalamus
Relationship to Pituitary Gland

Hypothalamic Connections
Anterior pituitary
From Pre-optic nucleus
Tubero-infundibular tract to
Median eminence, then via
Portal veins
Gonadotropic releasing hormone

Hypothalamic Connections
Posterior pituitary
Supraoptic-hypophyseal tract
ADH / Vasopressin (supraoptic nuclei)
Oxytocin (paraventricular nuclei)

Function of the Pituitary

Weds

Basal ganglia