The thalamus is a large mass of gray matter located in the dorsal part of the diencephalon. Nerve fibers project out of the thalamus to the cerebral cortex in all directions, known as the thalamocortical radiations, allowing hub-like exchanges of information. It has several functions, such as the relaying of sensory signals, including motor signals to the cerebral cortex and the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.
In neuroanatomy, the trigeminal nerve (lit. triplet nerve), also known as the fifth cranial nerve, cranial nerve V, or simply CN V, is a cranial nerve responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions such as biting and chewing; it is the most complex of the cranial nerves. Its name (trigeminal, from Latin tri- 'three', and -geminus 'twin') derives from each of the two nerves (one on each side of the pons) having three major branches: the ophthalmic nerve (V1), the maxillary nerve (V2), and the mandibular nerve (V3). The ophthalmic and maxillary nerves are purely sensory, whereas the mandibular nerve supplies motor as well as sensory (or "cutaneous") functions. Adding to the complexity of this nerve is that autonomic nerve fibers as well as special sensory fibers (taste) are contained within it.
The third ventricle is one of the four connected ventricles of the ventricular system within the mammalian brain. It is a slit-like cavity formed in the diencephalon between the two thalami, in the midline between the right and left lateral ventricles, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The mammillary bodies are a pair of small round bodies, located on the undersurface of the brain that, as part of the diencephalon, form part of the limbic system. They are located at the ends of the anterior arches of the fornix. They consist of two groups of nuclei, the medial mammillary nuclei and the lateral mammillary nuclei.
In the human brain, the diencephalon is a division of the forebrain. It is situated between the telencephalon and the midbrain. The diencephalon has also been known as the tweenbrain in older literature. It consists of structures that are on either side of the third ventricle, including the thalamus, the hypothalamus, the epithalamus and the subthalamus.
The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the occipital lobe, part of the back of the human brain. The two arteries originate from the distal end of the basilar artery, where it bifurcates into the left and right posterior cerebral arteries. These anastomose with the middle cerebral arteries and internal carotid arteries via the posterior communicating arteries.
The interthalamic adhesion is a flattened band of tissue that connects both parts of the thalamus at their medial surfaces. The medial surfaces form the upper part of the lateral wall to the third ventricle.
Taenia or tænia, from Greek ταινία and Latin taenia may refer to:
The taeniae coli are three separate longitudinal ribbons of smooth muscle on the outside of the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colons. They are visible and can be seen just below the serosa or fibrosa. There are three teniae coli: mesocolic, free and omental taeniae coli. The teniae coli contract lengthwise to produce the haustra, the bulges in the colon.
The stria medullaris (SM), is a part of the epithalamus and forms a bilateral white matter tract of the initial segment of the dorsal diencephalic conduction system (DDCS). It contains afferent fibers from the septal nuclei, lateral preoptico-hypothalamic region, and anterior thalamic nuclei to the habenula. It forms a horizontal ridge on the medial surface of the thalamus on the border between dorsal and medial surfaces of thalamus. The SM, in conjunction with the habenula and the habenular commissure, forms the habenular trigone. It is considered to be the primary afferent of the DDCS.
The midline nuclear group is a region of the thalamus consisting of the following nuclei:
Medullary laminae of thalamus are layers of myelinated fibres that appear on cross sections of the thalamus. They also are commonly referred to as laminae medullares thalami or medullary layers of thalamus. The specific layers are:
The habenular commissure is a nerve tract of commissural fibers that connects the habenular nuclei on both sides of the habenular trigone in the epithalamus.
The habenular trigone is a small depressed triangular area situated anterior/superior to the superior colliculus. It contains the habenular nuclei.
The superior thalamic vein, initially called by Benno Shlesinger in 1976 the principal thalamic vein or centro-medial thalamic vein, also called by Russian surgeon Pirogoff internal thalamic vein is the most prominent vein of the thalamus. It shows great interindividual anatomic variations.
The paired fronto-polar thalamic veins originate each on the corresponding frontal polus of the thalamus and drain its anterior portion. Benno Shlesinger in 1976 classified these veins as belonging to the central group of thalamic veins.
The paired medial anterior thalamic veins originate each from the medial anterior part of the thalamus. Benno Shlesinger in 1976 classified these veins as belonging to the central group of thalamic veins.
The paired laterocaudal thalamic veins originate each from the lateral caudal part of the corresponding half of the thalamus. Benno Shlesinger in 1976 classified these veins as belonging to the lateral group of thalamic veins.
The paired lateroventral thalamic veins originate each from the lateral ventral part of the corresponding half of the thalamus. Benno Shlesinger in 1976 classified these veins as belonging to the lateral group of thalamic veins.
