Dorsal “Thalamus”

Medical Neuroscience

Dr. Wiegand

The Diencephalon

HypothalamusHypothalamus

ThalamusThalamus Epithalamus(Pineal & Habenula)

Epithalamus(Pineal & Habenula)

The Diencephalon

SubthalamusSubthalamusPituitaryPituitary

Interthalamic adhesion

Interthalamic adhesion

The “Dorsal” Thalamus

Sensory integration nucleus – gateway to the cerebral cortex

Afferents from both rostral and caudal central nervous system structures

Efferents primarily to cerebral cortex via four principal “radiations”

Associated with motor, sensory, limbic and vegetative functions

External medullary

lamina

3rd Ventricle

Anterior n.

** Interthalamic adhesion

Internal medullary

lamina

Reticular n.

Inte

rnal

ca

psu

le

Lat

eral

n

.

Med

ial

n.

Intern

al cap

sule

General Organization

medial nucleimedial nuclei

lateral nucleilateral nuclei

anterior nucleianterior nuclei

internalmedullary

lamina

internalmedullary

lamina

dorsal tierdorsal tier

geniculatebodies

geniculatebodies

pulvinarpulvinar

ventral tierventral tier

Frontal Section

internalmedullary

lamina

internalmedullary

lamina

externalmedullarylamina

externalmedullarylamina

externalmedullary

lamina

externalmedullary

lamina

intralaminarnuclei

intralaminarnuclei

reticular nucleireticular nuclei3rd Ventricle

Thalamic Nuclei Anterior Lateral

Dorsal Tier• lateral dorsal• lateral posterior• pulvinar

Ventral Tier• ventral anterior• ventral lateral• ventral posterior

(VLP & VPM)• posterior nucleus

Thalamic Nuclei

Medial medial/medial

dorsal midline nuclei

Pulvinar Geniculate bodies Reticular Intralaminar

centromedian parafasciular

Specific Sensory Nuclei

afferent nucleus efferent function

Dorsal Column &

Anterolateral System

VPL Postcentral Gyrus

Somesthesis

Trigeminal System

VPM Postcentral Gyrus

Somesthesis

Inferior Colliculus

MGB Temporal lobe

Hearing

Retina LGB Occipital lobe

Vision

Specific Cortical Relay Nuclei

afferent nucleus efferent function

Cerebellum VL Precentral Gyrus & Frontal cortex

Movement & Motor Planning

Globus Pallidus

VA Premotor Cortex

Motor Planning

Specific Association Nucleiafferent nucleus efferent function

Hypothalamus Anterior Cingulate Limbic

Amygdala MD Prefrontal Cortex

Limbic

Hypothalamus & Cingulate

LD Cingulate Emotions

Parietal lobe & Sup.Colliculus

LP Parietal Cortex Sensory integration

Anterolateral System

Posterior Insula, Cingulate and Association

Cortices

Pain

Sup. Colliculus

Pulvinar Temporal, Parietal and

Occipital Lobes

Vision

Non-Specific Nuclei

afferent nucleus efferent function

Reticular Formation

Midline Entire Cortex Arousal/Limbic

Motor / Premotor

Basal Ganglia & Reticular Formation

Intra-laminar

Striatum & Cortex

Motor Integration

Cortex & Brainstem

Reticular Thalamus Thalamic Modulation

Thalamus Thalamus

Caudate NucleusCaudate Nucleus

Lentiform NucleiLentiform NucleiInternalCapsule