L9: diencephalon, basal ganglia, cerebral cortex

name the 4 subdivisions of the diencephalon

thalamus, hypothalamus, subthalamus, epithalamus

state the role of the thalamus

major relay + processing centre

state the role of the hypothalamus

regulates homeostasis + controls endocrine system via pituitary gland

state the role of the epithalamus

regulates circadian rhythm via secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland

state the role of the subthalamus

modulates motor function + is highly connected to basal ganglia

name the 3 subdivisions of the thalamus

anterior, medial, lateral

name the white matter in the thalamus

internal medullary lamina

state the role of the anterior nuclear group of the thalamus

part of the limbic system - involved in emotion and memory

state the role of the medial nuclear group of the thalamus

associated with individual awareness + emotional processing

state the role of the lateral nuclear group of the thalamus

handles most sensory + motor relays

which region of the thalamus acts as the primary auditory cortex

medial geniculate nucleus

which region of the thalamus acts as the primary visual cortex

lateral geniculate nucleus

which region of the thalamus acts as the primary gustatory cortex

ventral posteromedial region of lateral nuclear group

label the structures of the thalamus

state the function of the lateral dorsal region of the thalamus

connects to the limbic system via the cingulate gyrus - role in emotional processing

state the function of the lateral posterior region of the thalamus

relates to the pulvinar - acts as a higher order relay for visual, parietal, sensory inputs

state the 3 major functions of the thalamus

1. sensory relay

2. support for motor systems

3. mental operation regulation

name the 2 sensory pathways running through the thalamus

spinothalamic + dorsal column-medial lemniscus

describe the function of the spinothalamic pathway

senses pain, pressure, crude touch, temperature

describe the function of the dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway

senses proprioceptive, fine touch, and vibration

name the features of the hypothalamus

name the primary components of the basal ganglia

striatus (caudate nucleus + putamen), globus pallidus (GPe + GPi), substantia nigra (SNr, SNc), subthalamic nucleus

what components make up the direct basal ganglia pathway

GPi + SNr

what components make up the indirect basal ganglia pathway

GPe, SNc, STN

describe the function of the direct basal ganglia pathway

directly lifts inhibition of the thalamus to allow excitation of the motor cortex

describe the function of the indirect basal ganglia pathway

increases inhibitory output of the direct pathway

label the basal ganglia, thalamus, and internal capsule on this parasagittal segment

label the basal ganglia, thalamus, and features of the cerebrum on this coronal segment

name the 3 catagories of white matter

association, commissural, projection fibres

what do association fibres connect

adjacent brain areas w/i the same hemisphere

what do commisural fibres connect

left + right hemisphere

what do projection fibres connect

brain with body

name an example of a commissural fibre

corpus callosum

name an example of a projection fibre

internal capsule

name an example of an association fibre

longitudinal association fibres

name the 2 motor pathways

corticospinal/pyramidal + corticonuclear/corticobulbar

what does the corticospinal tract control

voluntary movement below the head

what does the corticonuclear tract control

voluntary movement in the head + neck

describe the pathway of the corticospinal tract

lower motor neurones synapse onto lateral + anterior spinocortical tract which meet at the medulla + run to the internal capsule and the motor cortex

describe the pathway of the corticonuclear tract

runs from cranial nerves in the brainstem to the motor cortex

name the structures in the limbic system

parts of the cerebral cortex, basal nuclei, thalamus, hypothalamus, olfactory cortex

how does the limbic system create a responce

acts through the autonomic nervous system + endocrine system to control visceral functions

what is the limbic system involved in

emotions, memory, reproduction, nutrition

label the structures of the limbic system

how were brodmann areas differentiated

by cellular architecture

which homunculus is this

sensory

which homunculus is this

motor

what does brodmann area 1/2/3 refer to

post central gyrus - primary somatosensory cortex

what does brodmann area 6 refer to

premotor/supplimentary motor areas

what does brodmann area 4 refer to

prefrontal gyrus - primary motor cortex

what does brodmann area 44/45 refer to

broccas area - speech production

what does brodmann area 22 refer to

wernickes area - language comprehension

what does brodmann area 17 refer to

primary visual cortex

what does brodmann area 41/42 refer to

primary auditory cortex

what does brodmann area 28 refer to

parahippocampal gyrus