Subcortical Nuclei and Structures

Question 1

Limbic System - Function and Areas (5)

Answer 1

Process internal mental/emotional processes. Satiety and hunger, memory, emotional response, sexual reproduction, maternal instincts, sexual arousal.
- Hippocampus (HPC)
- Amygdala (AM)
- Thalamus (THA)
- Hypothalamus (HPT)
- Hypophysis (HYP)

Question 2

Hippocampus (HPC) - Location, Divisions and Function

Answer 2

Located in the floor of the posterior horn (lateral ventricle). It is divided into 4 fields CA 1-4 (cornu ammonis). Mostly involved in memory processes (declarative, long term memory).

Question 3

Amygdala (AM) - Function (7) and Location

Answer 3

Located anterosuperior to the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle.
Emotional processes related to memory, memory consolidation and decision making, regulation of selective attention.
AM is the center of innate and acquired fear!
- Death
- Suffocation
- Incapacitation
- Physical injury
- Isolation
- Disgust
- Unknown/abnormal

Question 4

Cingulate Cortex (CC) - Location and Function

Answer 4

Located above corpus callosum, spreading posteroanterior along temporal, parietal and frontal lobes connecting to subcortical structures. Divided in anterior (aCC) and posterior (pCC).
Plays a role in different processes, most involving reasoning, higher cognitive functions and its connection to memory and emotions.

Question 5

Anterior Cingulate Cortex (aCC) - Function and connection with AM

Answer 5

Decides on the probability of doing/something happening.
Connects to the Amygdala and they modulate each other, controlling fear.

Question 6

Thalamus - Location and Function

Answer 6

The thalamus is a paired gray matter structure of the diencephalon located near the center of the brain, above the midbrain.
Assemble of nuclei that receive sensory or motor information from the rest of the body and present selected information via nerve fibers to the cerebral cortex. Has a role in perception of the environment.

Question 7

Hypothalamus - Location and Function

Answer 7

Composed of 9 nuclei. Connects the nervous system and endocrine system, production of hormones to regulate the autonomous functions of the body.
Sits below the hypothalamic sulcus within the medial wall of the third ventricle, which separates the hypothalamus from the thalamus above.

Question 8

Hypophysis - Location, Lobes and Function

Answer 8

Small, ovoid structure, situated in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone. Controls the activity of other endocrine glands in the body and consequently has many vital functions and roles in metabolism, growth, sexual maturation, reproduction, blood pressure and many other processes.
Two main lobes:
Adenohypophysis (anterior lobe)
Neurohypophysis (posterior lobe)

Question 9

Basal Nuclei - Location, Function and Different Nuclei

Answer 9

Located around the thalamus which surrounds the 3rd ventricle.
Directly or indirectly involved in the regulation of almost all systems, in specific of motor processes.
- Caudate
- Putamen
- Globus Pallidus (external and internal) GPi GPe
- Nucleus accumbens (NAcc)
Subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra are not anatomically connected but are functionally connected.

Question 10

Striatum - Divisions (4) and Function

Answer 10

Has a direct connection to the cerebral cortex, for both inputs and outputs. Considered a doorway connecting the basal nuclei to the cerebral cortex.
Ventral striatum: Nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle.
Dorsal striatum: Caudate and putamen
Corpus striatum: Caudate, putamen and Globus pallidus

Question 11

Putamen - Function

Answer 11

Regulation of movements and goal-directed/addictive behavior.
Connects directly to the cerebral cortex and other basal nuclei, especially GPi, GPe, participating in a self-regulatory loop of the other structures.

Question 12

Substantia Nigra - Function and Division

Answer 12

SNc: Substantia Nigra compact
SNr: Substantia Nigra reticulate
Most relevant producer of dopamine for the CNS.
Main output nucleus of regulatory pathways.

Question 13

Nucleus Basales Meynert

Answer 13

Connects ACh to different parts of the frontal and temportal cortices, and the amygdala. Due to its decreased volume in dementia and severe cognitive deficit, suggests an excitatory/regulatory role in rational and emotional processes.

Question 14

Claustrum - Location and Function

Answer 14

Builds connection between cortical areas for high cognitive functions. Has a high developed neuroplasticity due to high concentrations of BDNF and GNF. Can be used as an on/off switch for deep brain stimulation in disorders of consciousness.
Located inside the temporal lobe.

Question 15

Locus Coeruleus - Function and Location

Answer 15

Lower than the basal nuclei, close to the brainstem (some are inside).
Produces norepinephrine, affecting behavior, memory and hormone regulation.
NE activates the AM, AM acts on the Hypothalamus, HPT increases the activity of Hypophysis that activates the suprarenal gland.
LC (NE) → AM → HPT → HYP → SRG

Question 16

Raphe Nuclei - Location and Function

Answer 16

Belongs to the reticular formation, 6 nuclei. Located deep inside the brainstem.
Produce seratonin.

Question 17

Cerebellum - Function and Division

Answer 17

Modulates automatic response and proprioceptive info. Doesn’t produce voluntary movements.
Responsible for integrating inputs from peripheral receptors and motor centers in the spinal cord, visual and vestibular systems and cerebrum and brainstem to ensure coordination of movement, balance, posture, and motor learning.
- Flocculonodular lobe (where is our body in space and how to adapt it)
- Anterior lobe (Detect proprioceptive input)
- Posterior lobe (Detect proprioceptive input)
Representation of the trunk in the center.

Question 18

Deep Cerebellar Nuclei - Function

Answer 18

Regulates the input coming in and the output before it leaves to other areas of the CNS.
Regulated by the basal nuclei.

Question 19

Red Nucleus - Function

Answer 19

Surrounded by Substantia Nigra.
Supports transmission of motor information from cerebellum to spinal cord, being involved with postural control and coordination.