Diencéfalo y Tálamo en Neuroanatomía

The diencephalon is divided into regions by the hypothalamic sulcus: thalamic region, infratalamic region, subthalamic region, hypothalamic region, and epithalamic region.

The thalamus is an ovoid structure above the hypothalamic sulcus, positioned at the lateral side of the third ventricle. Its outer surface sits near the posterior limb of the internal capsule, the top connects to the lateral ventricles, and its base connects to areas including the cerebellum and sensory areas.

The thalamus comprises internal white matter (internal medullary lamina) that divides the nuclei into subgroups. It also has external white matter (external medullary lamina) and associated reticular nuclei.

Thalamic nuclei are categorized by their location relative to the internal medullary lamina. They include anterior, medial dorsal, lateral (ventral, anterior, lateral, posterior), dorsal (lateral, posterior), posterior (including pulvinar, and medial geniculate, and lateral geniculate) and intralaminar nuclei.

These nuclei form connections with the motor and sensory cortices, serving as a gateway to the cerebral cortex.

These nuclei communicate with association cortices.

A Y-shaped white matter structure inside the Thalamus that divides thalamic nuclei into subgroups.

Surrounds the internal lamina and contains the reticular nuclei of the thalamus.

Part of the thalamus, receiving input from mamillary bodies and hippocampus, then projecting to cingulate gyrus; involved in memory.

Thalamic nuclei with varied functions, including motor, sensory, and auditory processing.

Thalamic nucleus receiving input from the globus pallidus and projecting to the premotor cortex.

Part of the ventral lateral nucleus, receiving input from globus pallidus, projecting to secondary motor cortex for action.

Part of the ventral lateral nucleus receiving cerebellar input; projects to motor cortex.

Thalamic nuclei receiving sensory input (touch, pain, temperature) from the medial lemniscus and trigeminal lemniscus; project to sensory cortex.

Thalamic nucleus relaying auditory information from the inferior colliculus to the auditory cortex.

Thalamic nucleus relaying visual information from the retina to the visual cortex.

Receives visual information from the superior colliculus, acting as an extrageniculate visual pathway. It relays this information to the parietal and visual association cortices, supporting object tracking in the peripheral visual field.

Thalamic nuclei within the internal medullary lamina, most notably the centromedian nucleus. They receive input from the brainstem's ascending activating reticular formation and the limbic system, sending projections to the cerebral cortex and striatum.

Thalamic nuclei situated in the external medullary lamina,acting as a modulating station for other thalamic projections.

Produces melatonin, regulating circadian rhythms (sleep-wake cycles), and has antioxidant properties.

Connected to the limbic system, potentially involved in memory circuits.

Division into three zones: lateral, medial, and nuclei bordering the third ventricle.

Divided into anterior (optic chiasm), tuberal (hypophyseal stalk), and posterior (mammillary bodies) regions.

Controls endocrine, sensory, and motor functions related to bodily organs.

The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland in two ways: a) the tuberoinfundibular tract (for the anterior pituitary) and b) the hypothalamo-hypophysial tract (for the posterior pituitary).

Part of the hypothalamus that regulates the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) by releasing stimulating or inhibiting substances through parvocellular cells.

Part of the hypothalamus that regulates the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) by releasing hormones (like oxytocin and vasopressin) through magnocellular cells.

The hypothalamus senses and adjusts body temperature and osmolarity in the blood, impacting ingestions behaviors.

The preoptic nucleus detects rising body temperature in the brain, while the posterior nucleus causes sweating.

The hypothalamus detects changes in blood osmolarity, which lead to behavior, like drinking to restore balance.

The ventromedial and lateral nuclei control how much you eat.

The hypothalamus centrally controls the function of the autonomic nervous system in part through parasympahetic regulation