Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Limbic

What part of the brain is the hypothalamus located in?

The diencephalon

What structures are located anterior and inferior to the thalamus?

The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland

What are the four zones of the hypothalamus?

Pre-optic zone, supraoptic zone, tuberal zone, and mammillary zone

What nucleus is responsible for regulating circadian rhythms?

The suprachiasmatic nucleus

What is the function of the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus?

It regulates hunger and satiety by secreting neuropeptides.

Which nucleus is known as the satiety center?

The ventromedial nucleus (VMN)

Which nucleus is known as the hunger center?

The lateral hypothalamic nucleus (LHN)

What hormone does the arcuate nucleus secrete to stimulate satiety?

Alpha MSH/CART

What hormone does the arcuate nucleus secrete to stimulate hunger?

Neuropeptide Y and AgRP

What role does leptin play in appetite regulation?

It signals satiety when fat storage increases.

What is the Papez circuit?

A neural circuit involved in memory that connects the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies and anterior thalamic nucleus.

What is the function of the mammillary bodies?

They are essential for memory consolidation.

What does the supraoptic nucleus respond to?

Water balance (osmolality) of the blood.

What hormone does the supraoptic nucleus release in response to high solute levels?

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

What is the function of oxytocin released by the paraventricular nucleus?

It is involved in childbirth and lactation.

What is the role of the anterior hypothalamic nucleus?

It is involved in the parasympathetic nervous system and thermoregulation.

How does the anterior hypothalamic nucleus help decrease body temperature?

By causing vasodilation and stimulating sweating.

What is the function of the posterior hypothalamic nucleus?

It is involved in the sympathetic nervous system and increases body temperature.

What is the relationship between the hypothalamus and the endocrine system?

The hypothalamus regulates hormone release from the pituitary gland.

What is the role of the medial pre-optic nucleus?

It secretes GnRH and GnIH to regulate gonadotropic hormone release.

What does the term 'endocrine' refer to in the context of the hypothalamus?

The hypothalamus's role in regulating hormone secretion into the bloodstream.

What is the effect of ghrelin on the hypothalamus?

It stimulates hunger by activating the lateral hypothalamic nucleus.

What is Wernicke encephalopathy characterized by?

Confabulation and memory loss.

What is the connection between the limbic system and the hypothalamus?

The limbic system is involved in emotions and behaviors that are regulated by the hypothalamus.

What physiological response can cause an increase in body temperature?

Vasoconstriction of the cutaneous blood vessels and shivering.

What is the connection between the amygdala and the ventral medial nucleus of the hypothalamus called?

Stria terminalis.

What is the second connection between the amygdala and hypothalamus?

Ventral Amydalo Fugal Pathway.

Which structure connects the hippocampus to the hypothalamus?

Fornix.

What is the medial forebrain bundle?

The connection between the septal nuclei, prefrontal cortex, reticular formation, and hypothalamus.

What is the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract?

The connection between the supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and the posterior pituitary.

What is the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system?

The vascular connection between the arcuate nucleus and anterior pituitary.

What is the hypothalamospinal tract?

The connection between the posterior hypothalamic nucleus and the T1-L2 lateral gray horn of preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system.

What is the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus?

The connection between the anterior hypothalamic nucleus and the brainstem, sacral spinal cord, and solitary nucleus.

What are the three main sections of the thalamus?

Sensory information, motor information, and limbic information.

What divides the thalamus into three sections?

The Internal Medullary Lamina.

Which thalamic nuclei are involved in Papez's circuit?

Anterior thalamic nuclei.

What can damage to Papez's circuit lead to?

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Korsakoff's syndrome.

What is the role of the dorsal medial nucleus?

Involved in emotional memory, motivation, and drive.

What syndrome is caused by a deficiency of thiamine B (vitamin B1)?

Korsakoff's syndrome.

What type of information does the centro-median nucleus receive?

Information via the slow-pain pathways (spinothalamic tract).

What is the function of the ventro posterior medial nucleus?

Receives information via the trigemino-thalamic tract, transmitting pain, temperature, and touch information of the face.

What is the role of the ventroposterior lateral nucleus?

Gets sensory information from the dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway and spinothalamic tract.

What is the function of the lateral geniculate nucleus?

Involved in the visual pathway, transmitting signals from the retina to the primary visual cortex.

What is the role of the medial geniculate nucleus?

Involved in the auditory pathway, sending signals to the primary auditory cortex.

What does the pulvinar nucleus do?

Receives information from the MGN, LGN, and superior/inferior colliculi, involved in visual processing.

What does the central tegmental tract connect?

It connects the nucleus to the VML nucleus.

What are the two motor thalamic nuclei?

Ventral Anterior Nucleus and Ventral Lateral Nucleus.

What is the role of the Ventral Anterior Nucleus?

It receives input from the basal ganglia and sends it to the premotor cortex, modulating movement pathways.

What is the function of the Ventral Lateral Nucleus?

It is involved in coordination and modulation of motor movement.

How does the cerebellum contribute to motor planning?

It creates a 'blueprint' of the best movement and sends this information to the thalamus.

What structures are involved in the limbic system?

A group of gray and white matter structures in the cerebrum, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus.

What is the cingulate gyrus?

The top part of the C-shaped limbic lobe.

What are the three parts of the hippocampal formation?

Dentate gyrus, subiculum, and hippocampus proper.

What is the role of the amygdala in the limbic system?

It is responsible for emotions and behaviors.

What connects the hippocampus to the septal area and mamillary bodies?

The fornix.

What is Papez's circuit involved in?

Memory processing.

How does the amygdala communicate emotional responses?

It interacts with the hypothalamus, which regulates autonomic functions.

What nucleus in the hypothalamus is involved in feeding behaviors?

The ventromedial nucleus (VMN) and lateral hypothalamic nucleus (LHN).

What is the function of the medial preoptic nucleus?

It increases GnRH secretion, which boosts testosterone levels.

What is the mesolimbic pathway?

The pathway between the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens, involved in the brain's reward system.

What is Kluver-Bucy syndrome?

A condition affecting the amygdala, causing placidity, hypersexual behavior, and overeating.

What does Wernicke's Encephalopathy result from?

A deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1) that damages the mamillary bodies.

What is the basilar pons?

The anterior portion of the pons, containing pontine nuclei.

What does the medial lemniscus carry?

Sensory information related to proprioception and fine discriminative touch.

What is the role of the rubrospinal tract?

It is a motor pathway that controls flexor muscles of the upper extremities.

What does the trigeminal lemniscus carry?

Sensory information from the face, including pain and crude touch.

What is the function of the medial longitudinal fasciculus?

It connects cranial nerves involved in eye movement.

What is the significance of the mammilo-thalamic tract?

It connects the mamillary bodies to the anterior thalamic nucleus.

What does the ventral spinocerebellar tract carry?

Sensory information to the cerebellum regarding proprioception.

What is the function of the inferior cerebellar peduncles?

They connect the cerebellum to the medulla and pons.

What is the role of the superior olivary nucleus?

It plays a role in the relative intensity, timing, and velocity of auditory sensations.

What is the function of the entorhinal cortex?

It connects the hippocampus to the parahippocampal gyrus.