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Thalamus
The thalamus (pl.: thalami; from Greek θάλαμος, "chamber") is a large mass of gray matter on the lateral wall of the third ventricle forming the dorsal part of the diencephalon (a division of the forebrain). 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 and motor signals to the cerebral cortex and the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.
Anatomically, the thalami are paramedian symmetrical structures (left and right), within the vertebrate brain, situated between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain. It forms during embryonic development as the main product of the diencephalon, as first recognized by the Swiss embryologist and anatomist Wilhelm His Sr. in 1893.
The thalami are paired structures of gray matter about four centimetres long and ovoid in appearance, located in the forebrain which is superior to the midbrain, near the center of the brain with nerve fibers projecting out to the cerebral cortex in all directions. In fact, almost all thalamic neurons (with the notable exception of the thalamic reticular nucleus) project to the cerebral cortex, and every region of the cortex so far studied has been found to innervate the thalamus.
Each of the thalami may be subdivided into at least 30 nuclei, giving a total of at least 60 for the 'whole thalamus'.
Estimates of the volume of the 'whole thalamus' vary. A post-mortem study of 10 people with average age 71 years found average volume 13.68 cm. In an MRI study of 12 healthy males with average age 17 years, scans showed mean 'whole thalamus' volume 8.68cm.
The medial surface of the thalamus constitutes the upper part of the lateral wall of the third ventricle, and is connected to the corresponding surface of the opposite thalamus by a flattened gray band, the interthalamic adhesion.
The lateral part of the thalamus is the neothalamus, the phylogenetically newest part of the thalamus, which includes the lateral nuclei, the pulvinar nuclei and the medial and lateral geniculate nuclei.
The surface of the thalamus is covered by two layers of white matter, the stratum zonale covers the dorsal surface, and the external medullary lamina covers the lateral surface. (This stratum zonale should not be confused with the stratum zonale of the superior colliculus.) The grey matter of thalamus is partitioned by a Y shaped internal medullary lamina which divides the nuclei into anterior, medial, and lateral groups.
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Thalamus
The thalamus (pl.: thalami; from Greek θάλαμος, "chamber") is a large mass of gray matter on the lateral wall of the third ventricle forming the dorsal part of the diencephalon (a division of the forebrain). 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 and motor signals to the cerebral cortex and the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.
Anatomically, the thalami are paramedian symmetrical structures (left and right), within the vertebrate brain, situated between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain. It forms during embryonic development as the main product of the diencephalon, as first recognized by the Swiss embryologist and anatomist Wilhelm His Sr. in 1893.
The thalami are paired structures of gray matter about four centimetres long and ovoid in appearance, located in the forebrain which is superior to the midbrain, near the center of the brain with nerve fibers projecting out to the cerebral cortex in all directions. In fact, almost all thalamic neurons (with the notable exception of the thalamic reticular nucleus) project to the cerebral cortex, and every region of the cortex so far studied has been found to innervate the thalamus.
Each of the thalami may be subdivided into at least 30 nuclei, giving a total of at least 60 for the 'whole thalamus'.
Estimates of the volume of the 'whole thalamus' vary. A post-mortem study of 10 people with average age 71 years found average volume 13.68 cm. In an MRI study of 12 healthy males with average age 17 years, scans showed mean 'whole thalamus' volume 8.68cm.
The medial surface of the thalamus constitutes the upper part of the lateral wall of the third ventricle, and is connected to the corresponding surface of the opposite thalamus by a flattened gray band, the interthalamic adhesion.
The lateral part of the thalamus is the neothalamus, the phylogenetically newest part of the thalamus, which includes the lateral nuclei, the pulvinar nuclei and the medial and lateral geniculate nuclei.
The surface of the thalamus is covered by two layers of white matter, the stratum zonale covers the dorsal surface, and the external medullary lamina covers the lateral surface. (This stratum zonale should not be confused with the stratum zonale of the superior colliculus.) The grey matter of thalamus is partitioned by a Y shaped internal medullary lamina which divides the nuclei into anterior, medial, and lateral groups.