Thalamus and Hypothalamus

Question 0

What do the nuclei of the thalamus do?

Answer 0

VPL–> Spinothalamic and Dorsal Columns
VLM–> Trigeminal tracts (pain and touch)
VL–> Cerebellum, Globus pallidus (motor information)
VA–> Cerebellum, Globus pallidus (motor planning)
Anterior–> Mamillary bodies (emotion/memory)–> output to Cingulate gyrus
Medial Dorsal–> Prefrontal cortex, olfactory, limbic (cognitive/memory) –> output to prefrontal assoc. cortex

Question 1

What is the blood supply of the thalamus?

Answer 1

Posterior Communicating Artery and Anterior Choroidal Artery

Question 2

What functions does the hypothalamus control?

Answer 2

Homeostasis, eating, drinking, sleeping, sex

Question 3

What do the following Hypothalamic nuclei control? (Supraoptic and paraventricular, lateral, ventromedial, anterior, posterior, suprachiasmic, preoptic)

Answer 3

Supraoptic and paraventricular: ADH, oxytocin, and CRH. Lesion–> Central Diabetes Insipidus.
Lateral: Hunger. Lesion–> anorexia
Ventromedial: Satiety. Lesion–> hyperphagia
Anterior: Cooling (parasympathetic).
Posterior: Heating (sympathetic).
Suprachiasmic: circadian rhythms
Preoptic: gonadotropins

Question 4

What is the difference between Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH and Central Diabetes Insipidus?

Answer 4

Central Diabetes Insipidus–> LOW ADH–> polyuria and polydispsia with hypernatremia
Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH–> HIGH ADH–> fluid retention with hyponatremia