The Diencephalon and Cerebrum

diencephalon

a major region of the brain that includes the thalamus and the hypothalamus

thalamus

contains 12 major nuclei that serve as relay centers for information to and from the cerebral cortex and is called the gateway to the cerebral cortex

hypothalamus

the small inferior portion of the diencephalon that contains 12 nuclei and controls the autonomic nervous system, regulates body temperature, hunger and thirst, sleep-wake cycles, the endocrine system, emotional responses, motivational behavior, and participates in the formation of memory. It also has 2 bottom protrusions called mammillary bodies

mammillary bodies

are the 2 bottom protrusions of the hypothalamus (in the hypothalamus)

autonomic nervous system

controlled by the hypothalamus, which sends autonomic signals through the midbrain and reticular formation to visceral organs

thermoreceptors

structures that send information to the hypothalamus, which uses this information to regulate body temperature

pituitary gland

controlled by hormones secreted by the hypothalamus and, in turn, secretes hormones that control other endocrine glands

limbic system

involved in pleasure, rage, and fear, creates, stores, and retrieves memories, and sends out info that produces emotional responses. The hypothalamus is part of this system

hippocampus

a structure that works along with the hypothalamus in the formation of memory and is a site of memory storage and retrieval. It is also a cerebral structure of the limbic system

cerebrum

four important regions: basal nuclei (ganglia), cerebral white matter, and the cerebral cortex

basal nuclei (ganglia)

deep gray matter of the cerebrum that surrounds the lateral ventricles and contains the striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen) and the globus pallidus. They work with motor centers in the cerebral cortex and substantia nigra to start, stop and regulate intensity of voluntary movements

striatum

part of the basal nuclei and includes the caudate nucleus and the putamen

caudate nucleus and putamen

are components of the striatum, which is part of the basal nuclei

globus pallidus

is a component of the basal nuclei

dyskinesia

means “bad movements” and causes abnormal movements due to degenerative conditions of the basal nuclei

cerebral white matter

contains association fibers (carrying info within the same hemisphere), commissural fibers (carrying info between hemispheres), and projection fibers (carrying info to and from the cerebral cortex)

association fibers

are cerebral white matter that carries information within the same hemisphere

commissural fibers

are cerebral white matter that carries information between the right and left hemispheres

projection fibers

Projection fibers are cerebral white matter that carries information to and from the cerebral cortex

cerebral cortex

the outer layer of the cerebrum, organized into lobes containing specific regions of gray matter or cortex for processing and perception of specific types of information

frontal lobe

the anterior part of the cerebral cortex involved in functions such as the pre-frontal cortex, primary motor cortex (initiation of skeletal muscle movements in the pre-central gyrus), association areas, Broca’s area (speech movements), and the gustatory cortex (processing taste)

pre-central gyrus

in the frontal lobe contains the primary motor cortex, which is responsible for the initiation of skeletal muscle movements

primary motor cortex

located in the pre-central gyrus of the frontal lobe, is responsible for the initiation of skeletal muscle movements

Broca’s area

typically located on the left side of the frontal lobe, is involved in speech movements

gustatory cortex

located in the frontal lobe, is responsible for the processing and perception of taste

parietal lobe

is a region of the cerebral cortex containing the post-central gyrus which has the primary somatosensory cortex for processing and perception of somatic senses (touch, pain, etc.)

post-central gyrus

the parietal lobe contains the primary somatosensory cortex

primary somatosensory cortex

located in the post-central gyrus of the parietal lobe, is responsible for the processing and perception of somatic senses (touch, pain, etc.)

temporal lobe

a region of the cerebral cortex involved in the processing and perception of odorants (olfactory cortex), sounds (auditory cortex), and the auditory and visual aspects of speech (Wernicke’s area)

olfactory cortex

located in the temporal lobe, is responsible for the processing and perception of odorants

auditory cortex

located in the temporal lobe, is responsible for the processing and perception of sounds

Wernicke’s area

typically located on the left side of the temporal lobe, is involved in the auditory and visual aspects of speech

occipital lobe

is the posterior part of the cerebral cortex that contains the visual cortex for the processing and perception of light and images

visual cortex

located in the occipital lobe, is responsible for the processing and perception of light and images

cingulate gyrus

s a cerebral structure of the limbic system

septal nuclei

are cerebral structures of the limbic system

amygdala

a cerebral structure of the limbic system that processes fear and generates the sympathetic response to fear (in the reticular formation)

anterior thalamic nuclei

are diencephalon structures that are part of the limbic system

fornix

is a connecting tract associated with the limbic system

anterior commissure

is a connecting tract associated with the limbic system