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Thalamus

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Dr Jeremy Jones et al.

The thalamus is a paired and symmetrical structure in the brain, and the main part of the diencephalon. It is the pathway through which signals are sent from cerebrum to midbrain (brainstem) via the cerebral peduncles and vice versa.

The thalamus has many functions including:

translator of prethalamic inputs into readable form
process and relay of sensory information selectively to various parts of the cerebral cortex
regulation of sleep and wakefullness
thalamo-cortico-thalamic circuits involved in consciousness
arousal, the level of awareness, and activity

Blood supply for the thalamus comes from a number of arteries including polar and paramedian arteries, inferolateral (thalamogeniculate) arteries, and posterior (medial and lateral) choroidal arteries. These are all branches of the posterior cerebral artery.

Related pathology

thalamic syndrome : contralateral hemianaesthesia, often accompanied by mood swings
thalamic infarct :
thalamic glioma :

References

Article Information:

System: Central Nervous System

Section: Anatomy

Coronal brain in front of pons Images from wikipedia and Gray's anatomy (out of copyright)

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Brainstem nuclei and their connections Images from Gray's anatomy (out of copyright)

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Basal ganglia location Images taken from wikipedia from the out of copyright Gray's anatomy.Basal ganglia locationOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Telencephalon-Horiconatal.jpgBasal ganglia (coronal)Permission: GFDLOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basal-ganglia-coronal-sections-large.pngDopamine in PDThe image shows dopaminergic pathways of the human brain in normal condition (left) and Parkinsons Disease (right). Red Arrows indicate suppression of the target, blue arrows indicate stimulation of target structure.Permission: GNU freeOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DA-loops_in_PD.jpg

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Brain dissection (coronal brainstem section) The divisions of the brain are seen here in a coronal slice of the brain. 1. cerebrum 2. thalamus 3. midbrain 4. pons 5. medulla oblongata 6. spinal cord Photos of brain dissection from wikimedia commons and wikipedia.org (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midbrain)Brain dissection (inferior surface)The three divisions of the brainstem are seen here in this inferior view.cerebrummidbrainponsmedulla oblongatacerebellumSource: http://www.healcentral.org/healapp/showMetadata?metadataId=40566Permission: CC-BY: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Original file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_brain_inferior_view_description.JPGBrainstem dissection (lateral view)midbrainponsmedulla oblongatacerebellumcerebrumSource: http://www.healcentral.org/healapp/showMetadata?metadataId=40566Permission: CC-BY: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Original file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_cerebrum_lateral_view,_a_part_of_temporal_lobe_resected_description.JPGBrainstem dissection (posterior view)taenia choroideathalamus3rd ventriclepineal gland stalkhabenulastria medullarissuperior colliculusbrachium colliculi superiorisinferior colliculusbrachium colliculi inferioriscorpus geniculatum medialesulcus medianuspedunculus cerebellaris superiorpedunculus cerebellaris inferiorpedunculus cerebellaris mediustuberculum anterius thalamicbex, area postremaA: thalamus, B: midbrain, C: pons, D: medulla oblongataSource: http://www.healcentral.org/healapp/showMetadata?metadataId=40566Permission: CC-BY: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Original file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_brainstem-thalamus_posterior_view_description.JPGBrain dissection (coronal brainstem section)The divisions of the brain are seen here in a coronal slice of the brain.cerebrumthalamusmidbrainponsmedulla oblongataspinal cordSource: http://www.healcentral.org/healapp/showMetadata?metadataId=40566Permission: CC-BY: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Original file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_brain_frontal_(coronal)_section_description.JPG

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Dopamine in PD The image shows dopaminergic pathways of the human brain in normal condition (left) and Parkinsons Disease (right). Red Arrows indicate suppression of the target, blue arrows indicate stimulation of target structure. Images taken from wikipedia from the out of copyright Gray's anatomy.Basal ganglia locationOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Telencephalon-Horiconatal.jpgBasal ganglia (coronal)Permission: GFDLOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basal-ganglia-coronal-sections-large.pngDopamine in PDThe image shows dopaminergic pathways of the human brain in normal condition (left) and Parkinsons Disease (right). Red Arrows indicate suppression of the target, blue arrows indicate stimulation of target structure.Permission: GNU freeOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DA-loops_in_PD.jpg

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