The Diencephalon
Two is company, but three is a crowd
The Diencephalon
• The diencephalon is the section
of the brain that contains the
thalamus, hypothalamus and the
epithalamus
• It is a complex part of the brain
due to the many different
structures that are working at
the same time
The Diencephalon
• The diencephalon is responsible
for the interpretation of sensory
information with motor output
• Most of the information that is
processed and acted upon
happens at a subconscious level
• This includes information to and
from cranial nerves, regulation
of emotions and various nervous
and autonomic funitons
The Diencephalon
• The diencephalon is located
superior to the brainstem
• It is directly attached to the
midbrain
• The thalamus is divided into two
different lobes that are located
on the right and left half of the
brain
• The hypothalamus is central and
does not contain multiple
divisions
The Epithalamus
• The epithalamus is the dorsal
posterior of the diencephalon
superior to the third ventricle
• This section of the diencephalon
contains a large section of the
choroid plexus
• It extends through the
interventricular foramen and
into the lateral ventricles
The Epithalamus
• The epithalamus contains the
pineal gland
• The pineal gland is an endocrine
structure that secretes
hormones
• The main hormone that is
secretes is melatonin
• Melatonin is important in the
regulation of day and night
cycles
Video
• http://www.cbsnews.com/news
/parents-use-melatonin-to-getkids-to-sleep-is-it-safe/
• Keep in mind for 10 years from
now…
The Thalamus
• The thalamus is a two lobed
structure that lies at the top of
the diencephalon
• The two sections of the
thalamus are the right thalamus
and the left thalamus
• The third ventricle separates the
left thalamus and the right
thalamus
The Thalamus
• Each thalamus has groups of
thalamic nuclei
• These nuclei are divided into
several groups
• These groups include the
anterior, medial, ventral,
posterior and lateral groups
The Thalamus
• The thalamus acts as a basic
filter, that passes on the
important sensory information
that is needed in the higher
parts of the brain
• It also coordinates the activities
of the basal nuclei and the
cerebral cortex
• It also is important for
coordinating with the
hypothalamus to control
emotional states
The Hypothalamus
• The hypothalamus is located
inferior and slightly ventral to
the thalamus
• It is small and is sandwiched
between several different
structures including the
mammillary bodies, the
infundibulum and the tuberal
area
The Hypothalamus
• The hypothalamus has an
important relationship to the
pituitary gland
• The pituitary gland is often
called the master gland due to
its relationship with other glands
in the body
• The pituitary can increase or
decrease the production and
function of the other glands
The Hypothalamus
• The hypothalamus oversees
many aspects of regulating the
body
• When it needs to, it will
communicate with the pituitary
gland
• Then the pituitary will send
hormone signals to the rest of
the body through the blood
stream
The Hypothalamus
• The hypothalamus has many
actions including…
• Subconscious control of skeletal
muscles
• Coordination of nervous and
endocrine systems
• Production and regulation of
emotions and behavior drives
• Coordination between voluntary
and autonomic functions
• Regulation of body temperature
• Control of circadian rhythms
Video
• https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=sG9wqZ7Dtx4
• http://abcnews.go.com/Health/r
are-condition-drives-indiana-girleat-lightbulb/story?id=14750367