Diencephalon and Internal Capsule

Question 0

What is the function of the diencephalon?

Answer 0

Relay station for majority of motor and sensory connections - takes in information and sends it back out

Question 1

What are the five structures of the diencephalon?

Answer 1

Thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus (pineal gland), subthalamus, and pretectum

Question 2

What is the information order regarding the thalamus?

Answer 2

Thalamus takes information from the basal ganglia and the cerebellum and sends it to the cerebral cortex

Question 3

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 3

Relay station for sensory and motor information from cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and the limbic system - regulates flow of information to the cortex

Question 4

What are the three functional groups of the thalamic nuclei?

Answer 4

Relay nuclei, association nuclei, and nonspecific nuclei

Question 5

What is the function of the relay nuclei?

Answer 5

Convey information from the sensory system, basal ganglia, and cerebellum - majority of the nuclei

Question 6

What is the function of the association nuclei?

Answer 6

Process emotional and some memory information or integrate different types of sensation

Question 7

What is the function of the nonspecific nuclei?

Answer 7

Regulates consciousness, arousal, and attention - brainstem activity

Question 8

What kind of projection do the thalamic nuclei produce?

Answer 8

Projection to ipsilateral cerebral cortex (no crossing)

Question 9

What are the four types of sensory relay nuclei and what are they associated with?

Answer 9

VPL (ventral posterolateral) - input from trunk and limbs
VPM (ventral posteromedial) - taste and vestibular
MG (medial geniculate) - auditory
LG (lateral geniculate) - visual

Question 10

What are the two motor relay nuclei?

Answer 10

VA (ventral anterior) and VL (ventral lateral)

Question 11

What are the five types of association nuclei and what are they associated with?

Answer 11

AN (anterior nucleus) - limbic system and emotions
LD (lateral dorsal) - limbic system and emotions
MD (mediodorsal) - mood and emotions
LP (lateral posterior)
P (pulvinar)

Question 12

What is the blood supply to the thalamus?

Answer 12

Posterior cerebral artery (PCA)

Question 13

What type of pathways are interrupted from lesions to the thalamus?

Answer 13

Ascending pathways

Question 14

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 14

Integrates behaviors with visceral functions, maintains homeostasis, eating, reproductive, and defensive behaviors, regulates circadian rhythms, emotional expression of pleasure, rage, fear, and adversion, and endocrine regulation

Question 15

What is regulated in the middle (tuberal) hypothalamus?

Answer 15

BP, HR, and satiety

Question 16

What is the blood supply to the hypothalamus?

Answer 16

Branches of both the ACA and PCA

Question 17

Where is the choroid plexus located?

Answer 17

Epithalamus

Question 18

Where is the pineal gland located?

Answer 18

Epithalamus

Question 19

What is the function of the pineal gland?

Answer 19

Regulates circadian rhythms and secretes melatonin

Question 20

What is the function of the subthalamus?

Answer 20

Involved in regulating movement - rhythmic movement

Question 21

What is the function of the pretectum?

Answer 21

Receives binocular input - pupillary light reflex

Question 22

What is the function of the internal capsule?

Answer 22

Route through which thalamic fibers pass to and from the cortex - highway for axons

Question 23

What does the gray and white mater contain?

Answer 23

Gray = cell bodies
White = axons

Question 24

What is the blood supply to the internal capsule?

Answer 24

Middle cerebral artery (MCA)

Question 25

What type of fibers does the internal capsule contain?

Answer 25

Projection fibers

Question 26

What type of fibers does the arcuate fasciculus contain?

Answer 26

Association fibers

Question 27

What are the three types of fibers that connect structures?

Answer 27

Association, commissural, and projection fibers