THALAMUS and

HYPOTHALAMUS

Sameera Mushtaq
Learning Outcomes

▪ Gross appearance
▪ Functions
▪ Nuclei and glands
▪ Blood supply
▪ Clinical anatomy
THALAMUS
 Thalamus

▪ The thalamus is situated at the rostral end

of the brainstem
▪ It acts as a relay and integrative station for
information passing to all areas of the
cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia, the
hypothalamus, and the brainstem.
 Gross Structure of Thalamus

▪ The thalamus is a large, egg-shaped, paired mass

of gray matter that forms the major part of the
diencephalon.
▪ There are two thalami, and one is situated on
each side of the third ventricle
▪ The medial surface of the thalamus is usually
connected to the opposite thalamus by a band of
gray matter the Inter thalamic Connection.
 BOUNDARIES OF THALAMUS

▪ It is above the midbrain or mesencephalon, allowing

for nerve fiber connections to the cerebral cortex in
all directions
▪ The thalamus forms the upper and lateral walls of the
third ventricle while the dorsal surface is part of the
floor of the body of the lateral ventricle.
▪ Laterally, the thalamus limits with the internal
capsule.
▪ Anterolaterally, it limits with the head of the caudate
and ventral nucleus with the subthalamus and
hypothalamus.
 Parts of Thalamus
▪ The thalamus is divided into 3 parts by a vertical sheet of
white matter called INTERMEDULLARY LAMINA.

▪ Anterior part (lies between the limbs of the Y)

▪ Medial and Lateral parts (lie on the sides of the stem of the
Y)

▪ Each of the three parts of the thalamus contains a group of

thalamic nuclei.
 Thalamic Nuclei

▪ The anterior part of the thalamus contains the

anterior thalamic nuclei.

(concerned with emotional tone and the mechanisms

of recent memory)

▪ The medial part of the thalamus contains the large

Mediodorsal nucleus and several smaller nuclei

(sensory information, including somatic, visceral, and

olfactory information)
Thalamic Nuclei

• Lateral part of thalamus contains Lateral

nucleus,
• the lateral posterior nucleus
• the pulvinar
• Ventral anterior nucleus
• Ventral lateral nucleus
• Ventral posterior nucleus

• Other Nuclei of the Thalamus

• Intralaminar nuclei
• Midline nuclei
• Reticular nucleus,
• Medial and Lateral geniculate bodies.
 Functions of the Thalamus

Classically known for its roles as a Sensory relay in

➢Visual,
➢Auditory,
➢Somatosensory,
➢Gustatory systems
 Clinical notes
▪ Thalamic Pain/Dejerine-Roussy syndrome
▪ Thalamic pain may occur as the patient is recovering from a thalamic infarct. Spontaneous pain,
excessive, opposite side of the body.

▪ The painful sensation aroused by light touch or by cold

▪ Fail to respond to powerful analgesic drugs.

▪ Abnormal Involuntary Movements

▪ The ataxia may arise as the result of the loss of muscle and joint movement caused by a thalamic
lesion.

▪ Thalamic Hand

▪ The contralateral hand is held in an abnormal posture in some patients with thalamic lesions.
▪ The wrist is pronated, flexed, the MCP joints are flexed, and the IP joints are extended.
HYPOTHALAMUS
 INTRODUCTION

▪ HYPO---below , THALAMUS
▪ Small part of the brain
▪ Approx. the size of almond
▪ Only 0.3% of the total brain
▪ Accounts for less than 1% of the weight of the
brain
▪ Important role in Nervous and Endocrine
system
▪ Linked to another small and vital gland called
pituitary gland
 LOCATION OF HYPOTHALAMUS

▪ Present in the Posterior part of the forebrain

▪ Located below the Thalamus above the pituitary gland

and brainstem

▪ Connects the midbrain with the cerebral hemisphere

▪ Encloses the 3rd ventricle.

▪ The hypothalamus is highly involved in pituitary gland

function.
 FUNCTIONS OF HYPOTHALAMUS

▪ The hypothalamus links nervous and endocrine systems by way of

pituitary gland.

▪ Controls endocrine hormonal levels.

▪ Hunger and thirst

▪ Homeostasis

▪ Regulating emotional responses

▪ Managing of sexual behaviour

▪ Circadian rhythm
 HOW DOES THE HYPOTHLAMUS CONTROL THE PITUITARY GLAND?

The hypothalamus sends signals to the pituitary to

▪ Release or Inhibit pituitary hormone production

▪ The hormones of the pituitary gland help to regulate

the functions of other endocrine glands.

▪ Pituitary gland has two parts.

▪ Anterior lobe

▪ Posterior lobe
 HYPOTHALAMUS DIVISIONS

▪ Microscopically, the hypothalamus is

composed of small nerve cells that are
arranged in groups or nuclei

▪ ANTERIOR DIVISION

▪ MIDDLE DIVISION

▪ POSTERIOR DIVISION

▪ PREOPTIC REGION
 Anterior division nucleus

▪ Supra-optic nuclei
▪ Para-ventricular nuclei
 Middle division nucleus

▪ Ventromedial nucleus help to control appetite

▪ Arcuate nucleus involved in releasing GHRH

 Posterior division nucleus

• Posterior hypothalamic nucleus help to

regulate body temperature
▪ Mammillary nuclei involved in memory
function
 Blood supply:

• The anterior hypothalamus is supplied by

branches of the anterior cerebral and
anterior communicating arteries
• The middle hypothalamus is supplied by
the posterior communicating artery
• The posterior region is supplied by the
posterior communicating, posterior
cerebral, and basilar arteries.
 FUNCTIONS OF HYPOTHALAMIC NUCLEI

ANTERIOR: Vassopression & oxytocin, Circadian rhythm

PRE-OPTIC: Blood Pressure, Reproduction, Drinking, Feeding

MIDDLE Hunger centre, Thirst centre, Neuroendocrine control, GI stimulation

POSTERIOR(MAMMILLARY): Temperature control, Relay station, Feeding reflex

HYPOTHALAMUS ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

▪ ANTI-DIURETIC HORMONE (ADH) ▪ CORTICOTROPHIN-RELEASING HORMONE:

▪ -Regulate water levels in body ▪ -Body`s response to physical &emotional

stress
▪ -Including blood volume and blood
pressure. ▪ -Appetite & stimulate anxiety

▪ OXYTOCIN: ▪ GONADOTROPHIN RELEASING HORMONE:

▪ -Controls human behaviour ▪ -Stimulate the release of hormones

connected to puberty and maturation.
▪ -Reproductive system
▪ SOMATOSTATIN:

▪ -Inhibits growth & stimulating hormone

 HYPOTHALAMIC DYSFUNCTION

▪ Hypothalamic disease
Hypothalamic disease is a disorder presenting primarily in the
hypothalamus, which may be caused by
• Anorexia & Bulimia
• Malnutrition
• Surgery
• Genetic Disorders
• Head Traumas
• Tumour
 PITUITARY DISORDERS:

▪ Symptoms of pituitary deficiency occur due to loss of

hypothalamic control.
▪ HYPOPITUITARISM:
▪ Ultimately causes deficiency of hormones
▪ Produced by the gonads, adrenal cortex
▪ Loss of growth hormone
▪ DIABETES INSIPIDUS:
▪ Kidneys are unable to reabsorb water
▪ Which leads to excessive production of urine
▪ Result in very large amount of water loss, dehydration
PITUITARY DISORDERS:

▪ Pituitary dwarfism
▪ is characterized by
▪ short stature,
▪ delayed dentition
▪ delayed skeletal maturation.
PITUITARY DISORDERS:

▪ Hyperpituitarism
▪ Having an overactive pituitary gland is called
hyperpituitarism. It is most caused by noncancerous
tumors. This causes the gland to secrete too much of
certain kinds of hormones related to growth,
reproduction, and metabolism
 PITUITARY DISORDERS:

▪ Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism):

▪ Pituitary gland secretes too much ACTH, the adrenal glands
may release too much cortisol.
▪ Accumulation of fat in the upper body.
• Excessive facial hair in women.
• Tendency to bruise easily.
• Bones may become fragile and tend to break more easily.
 PITUITARY DISORDERS:

▪ Acromegaly: This disorder is caused by the secretion

of excessive amounts of growth hormone (GH) in adults.
Acromegaly can cause:
• Hands and feet to grow.
• Change in facial structure
• Skin becoming thick, coarse, and oily.
• Increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart
attack, and certain types of cancer.
 PITUITARY DISORDERS:

▪ Prader- willi syndrome:

▪ This is a rare inherited DISORDER.

▪ It causes the hypothalamus to not register when someone is full after eating.

▪ People with Prader-Willi syndrome have a constant urge to eat increasing their risk of
obesity
Thank You