DIENCEPHALON

ANTONIO ROQUE R. PARADELA,M.D., FPCS

Department of Anatomy
MATIAS H. AZNAR MEMORIAL COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Cebu City, Philippines

CEREBRUM

4.
5.

Largest part of the

brain
Situated in the
anterior and middle
cranial fossa
Divided into two
parts:
Telencephalon
Diencephalon

Diencephalon

Sits on top of the brain stem

Enclosed by the cerebral
hemispheres
Made of four parts:

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Epithalamus
Subthalamus

Diencephalon

Consists of the 3rd

ventricle and the
structures that form its
boundaries, most
rostral part of the
brainstem.
Ant.: Intervent. fora.
Post.: where the 3rd
vent. Forms the
cerebral aqueduct.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
MIDBRAIN-DIENCEPHALIC JUNCTION

Addition of several masses of neurons

surrounding the rostral part of the post. and
lat. Mesencephalon.
Medial and lateral geniculate body fiber.
Cerebral aqueduct expands into 3rd vent.
Sup. Colliculi replaced by pre-tectal region
Fasc. Retroflexor vertical fibers traversing
the medial portion of the red nucleus.

Inferior surface of the Diencephalon

Only exposed area to

the surface in the
intact brain.
Hypothalamus and
other structures:
Optic chiasma
Infundibulum with the
tuber cinerium
Mamillary body

Superior surface of the Diencephalon

Concealed by the
fornix : thick bundle of
nerve fibers from the
hippocampus of temp.
lobe and arches
posteriorly over the
thalamus to join the
mamillary body
Roof of 3rd vent.

Lateral surface of the Dierncephalon

Bounded by the
internal capsule

Medial surface of the Diencephalon

Superior part by the

medial surface of the
thalamus
Inferior part by the
hypothalamus
These 2 areas are
separated by a
shallow sulcus the
Hypothalamic sulcus.

Diencephalon

Diencephalon

Diencephalon

Diencephalon: Thalamus

Gateway to cerebral cortex

Most sensory stimuli project
to the thalamus, which in turn
projects to the cerebrum.
Thalamus also influences
moods and activities
associated with strong
emotion.
(Two concepts: Sensory
integration and Mood)

Diencephalon:Thalamus

Large ovoid mass of

gray matter forming a
greater part of the
Diencephalon.
Cell station to all main
sensory system
except the olfactory
pathway.

Diencephalon

HYPOTHALAMUS

HYPOTHALAMUS

ASSIGNMENT Long bond paper

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DRAW AND LABEL

Thalamus with its nuclei
Main connections of the thalamus
Hypothalamus with its nuclei
Hypophyseal portal system
Hypothalamohypophyseal tract
Cerebellum external Ant./ Post. / connections afferent and efferent
TABLE
Various thalamic nuclei, nervous connection and their functions
Afferent and efferent connections of hypothalamus
HRH/HIH
Functions of Thalamus and Hypothalamus
Cerebellum afferent and efferent pathways
Functions of Cerebellum
Read BRAINSTEM: Midbrain, Pons, Medulla

Good luck