07. Thalamus-Hypothalamus
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- Category: 2- Anatomy
- Published on 11 January 2014
- Written by Ben Brahim Mohammed
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Covered by the two cerebral hemispheres, the diencephalon [ 41 , 51 ] is the central nervous system structure that is at the center of the brain.
It contains masses of gray matter that play an extremely important role : the thalamus and the hypothalamus.
1. The thalamus [ 42 , 75 ]:
The thalamus is a nuclear complex that occupies the most part of the diencephalon [ 40 , 54 ].
It acts essentially as a relay to the vast majority of sensory inputs that go up to the cerebral cortex [ 1 , 38 , 40 ] hence its name, which means antechamber [40 , 119 , 140 , 73 ] upstream from the master bedroom.
It also plays a very important rôle in movements [ 40 , 75 ] and emotions.
The thalamus is made up of two masses of gray matter: right and left [ 42], each taking an ovoid shape [ 2 , 36 , 66]. These two parts are often joined together in the center by the Interthalamic adhesion [ 38 , 43 ].
The thalamus consists of multiple nuclei [ 2 , 76], each of these nuclei plays a very specific role.
The thalamus marks the lateral side of the third ventricle [ 38 , 224], and it is surrounded on top and front by the body and the head of the 2 lateral ventricles [ 43 , 66 ].
2. The hypothalamus [ 4 , 41 , 50 ]:
The hypothalamus; located immediatly below [ 42 ] and in front [ 54] of the thalamus, is significantly smaller in size and volume than the latter. Nevertheless, its role in the body is not the least [ 54 , 76 ].
In fact the hypothalamus contains several distinct nuclei [ 39] that provide numerous functions [ 4 , 38] including thermoregulation [ 5 , 77], appetite and regulation of sleep-wake cycle. It also plays a capital role in modulating the autonomic nervous system [ 4 ].
The hypothalamus is the real endocrine engine of the whole body. It controls the secretions of the pituitary gland, which produces the most important hormones of the body [ 69 ].