Hypothalamus Quiz

The hypothalamus forms the floor and portions of the ______________ walls for the _____________ ventricle and

Lateral; third

What two structures are unique to the hypothalamus?

Infundibular stalk and optic chiasma

What can the medial zone of the hypothalamus be divided into?

Anterior, intermediate, posterior

What does the hypothalamus have vague control over?

Hunger, thirst, sex

What about emotional expression does the hypothalamus control? Examples?

Physical aspect; cry when sad, blush when embarrased

What two functions does the hypothalamus have primary control over?

Autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) and endocrine (hormonal)

Which areas of the hypothalamus deal with parasympathetic control? Which structure does this include?

Anterior and intermediate; tuber cinereum

What does our parasympathetic system do regarding digestive motility, heart rate, and the pupil?

Increases digestive motility, decreases heart rate, constricts pupils

What area of the hypothalamus deals with sympathetic control? Which structures are included?

Posterior; posterior nuceli and mammilllary bodies

What does our sympathetic system do regarding digestive motility, heart rate and blood flow, and pupils? What else does it do?

Decreases digestive motility, increases heart rate and vasoconstriction, dilates pupils, piloerection, sweat gland secretions

How does the hypothalamus DIRECTLY impact endocrine control?

Via neuron axon extensions into the posterior pituitary

How does the hypothalamus INDIRECTLY impact endocrine control?

Via neurohormones controlling the release of anterior pituitary hormones

Which nuclei are included in the anterior area of the hypothalamus?

Supraoptic, paraventricular, suprachiasmatic, anterior, and preoptic area

Which tract do the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei use? Where do they terminate?

Hypothalamohypophyseal/Supra-opticohypophyseal tract; posterior pituitary

What do the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei secrete?

Oxytocin and anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)

What is the function of oxytocin in females?

Initiate uterine contractions, production and release of milk

What is the function of anti-diuretic hormone?

Fluid retention

What is the suprachiasmatic nuclei responsible for?

Circadian rhythm

What secretion occurs in response to the suprachiasmatic nucleus?

Melatonin

Which nucleus is complexly connected to the pineal gland?

Suprachiasmatic

Which nucleus is primarily known for its parasympathetic function? Which CN would it work with?

Anterior nucleus; CN III, VII, IX, X

Which nucleus is important for thermoregulation, especially as the body HEATS UP? What is the response?

Preoptic area nucleus; sweat

Which nuclei and structure are located in the intermediate or central area of the hypothalamus?

Dorsomedial (DM) nuclei, ventromedial (VM) nuclei, arcuate nuclei, tuber cinereum

Which nuclei has parasympathetic control over the GI tract? Which cranial nerve is it involved with?

Dorsomedial; Vagus (X)

Which nucleus is the "satiety or fullness center"?

Ventromedial

Which nuclei of the intermediate or central area are diffuse? What does this mean?

Dorsomedial and ventromedial; spread out

Which tract do the axons of the arcuate nuclei use? Where do they terminate?

Tuberoinfundibular tract; perivascular spaces of the infundibular stalk

Where do the neurohormones of the arcuate nuclei go after terminating in the infundibular stalk? How? What does this stimulate?

Anterior pituitary by way of bloodstream; stimulates release of pituitary hormones

What are the neurohormones of the arcuate nuclei commonly called?

Releasing factors or hypothalamic hypophysiotropic hormones

Which hormones do the releasing factors of the arcuate nuclei stimulate?

Growth hormone (GH) and follicle stimulation hormone (FSH)

What is the structure/surface located between the infundibular stalk and mammillary bodies in the intermediate area of the hypothalamus?

Tuber cinereum

Where is the tuber cinereum located?

Between infundibular stalk and mammillary bodies

What structure and nuclei are located in the posterior portion of the hypothalamus?

Mammillary bodies and posterior nuclei

What type of control centers dominate the posterior area of the hypothalamus, sympathetic or parasympathetic?

Sympathetic

Which structure in the posterior area deals with short term memory?

Mammillary bodies

Explain Korsakov's Syndrome

Damage to mammillary bodies due to a vitamin B deficiency related to alcoholism leads to short-term memory loss

What is it called when you make random shit up because you have memory loss?

Confabulation

What type of amnesia is characterized by memory loss before the trauma?

Retrograde

What type of amnesia is characterized by memory loss after the trauma?

Anterograde

What nuclei is involved in thermoregulation when the body COOLS DOWN? What is the response?

Posterior nuclei; shivering

Is the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY connected to the hypothalamus? What make the connection?

Indirectly; Blood

Is the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY connected to the hypothalamus? What makes the connection?

Directly; neurons of the hypothalamohypophyseal tract