SUBJECT: NEUROANATOMY

TOPIC: LIMBIC SYSTEM

LECTURER: Dr. Josephine Casanova-

Gutierrez

DATE: FEBRUARY, 2011

NEUROLOGY OF EMOTION

I. DEFINITION OF TERMS C. The Limbic Lobe

A. Emotion -“Limbus” – border or margin (Artificial
“a complex state of the Lobe)
organism involving certain -Central role in learning, memory,
types of bodily changes (mainly emotion, hormonal control, activities
visceral and autonomic) in -Involved in epilepsy, dementia,
association with a mental state psychiatric disorders, etc.
of excitement or perturbation -ring of gray matter that encircles the
and leading usually to an Corpus Callosum and underlying upper
impulse to action or to a certain Brainstem
type of behavior.”
**Components of the Limbic Lobe:
-strong feeling state (e.g. anger, fear,  Cingulate Gyrus
excitement, love, hate)  Hippocampal
-associated with certain types of Formation
bodily changes (mainly under the  Subcallosal Gyrus
control of the Autonomic NS)  Parolfactory Area
-leading to an impulse to action or a
certain type of behavior D. The Limbic System
-if INTENSE, there may be a -associated subcortical and brainstem
disturbance in the intellectual function nuclei include:
-there is disorganization in the normal • Cingulate gyrus
sequences of ideas and actions • Subcallosal gyrus
-tendency towards a more Automatic • Parahippocampal gyrus
Behavior of unmodulated, stereotyped • Hippocampal Formation
character – Hippocampus
– Dentate
B. Components of Emotion (Four – Subiculum
things that happen in Emotional • Amygdala
Experiences) • Paraolfactory Area
1. Perception of the Stimulus • Septal region
2. The Affect or Feeling • Brainstem Nuclei
3. Autonomic-Visceral Change – Preoptic Nuclei
4. Impulse to a Certain Type of – Hypothalamus
Activity – Anterior Thalamus
– Habenula
Limbic System: network that allows
all of these functions to be facilitated;
not a unidirectional pathway

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 1

REMEMBER
OuterArc
• Subcallosal gyrus Intralimbic Gyrus Inner Arc
• Cingulate gyrus • Indusium griseum • Mamillary Body
• Uncus and • Hippocampus • Fornix
Subiculum • Paraterminal gyrus • Alveus and
• Parahippocampal Fimbria [major
Gyrus efferent tract of
hippocampus

Cytoarchitectural Layers
Isocortex/neocortex = 6 layers
Archi/allocortex = 3 layers
ex. hippocampus
Mesocortex/ juxtacortex =
transition between 3-6 layers
ex. cingulate gyrus

II. STRUCTURES IN THE LIMBIC LOBE

A. Cingulate Gyrus
-located above the Corpus Callosum
(forms the ring)
-has sympathetic responses: its
stimulation produces the autonomic
effects similar to vegetative effects of
emotion (Increase heart rate, increase
blood pressure, papillary dilation,
piloerection, breath holding, and
respiratory arrest)
-involved in Memory processing,
Exploratory Behavior, Attention toward
Visual Stimuli
-also receive input from Inferior
Parietal Lobule, Temporal Lobule
(Multimodal Suprasensory Centers)
-Cingulum: large white matter bundle
carrying the efferent signals from the

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 2

Cingulate Gyrus to the Entorhinal • Clinical significance - epilepsy,
Cortex Korsakoff syndrome,
-Lesions in the Cingulate Gyrus Alzheimer’s disease
(usually bilateral cingulectomies)
results in diminution of emotional -extension of the Temporal Lobe
reactions (there is loss of initiative to -critical in memory function and
do anything) learning
**Suprasensory Centers -Pyramidal Cells are designated as
-ex) when we smell adobo, we Cornu Ammonis (CA)
can identify it as “adobo” -Main Component: Band of
because of our past experiences Pyramidal Neurons called: Sommer
Sector (CA1)
B. Hippocampal Formation -the hippocampal formation is
-Functional Considerations subdivided into sectors designated as
• Common origin of seizure CA, derived from the name Cornu
activity Ammonis, the older descriptive term
• Susceptibility to hypoxia for the Hippocampus (ie. CA1, CA2,
• Involvement with recent etc)
memory and learning
• Secondary roles • Main Structures in the
• Emotional reaction Hippocampal Formation:
• Visceral activity  Hippocampus
• Regulation of  Entorhinal Cortex
reticular activating  Dentate Gyrus
mechanisms  Subiculum
 Parahippocampal
Gyrus

Sommer Sector (CA1)

-Pyramidal Neurons which form a main
component of the Hippocampal
Formation
-they are very susceptible to Hypoxia

• Pathway of the Hippocampal

Formation:

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 3

 • Corticomedial Nuclear Group
• Basolateral Nuclear Group

Amygdaloid Nuclear Complex

Functional Considerations
• Behavioral Reactions
• “arrest” reaction
• Fight or flight
response
• Rage reaction
• Hypersexuality
• Visceral and Autonomic
Responses
• Changes in RR, BP,
**FORNIX HR , GI motility,
-white fiber bundle composed of axons pupils, body
of the Pyramidal Cells of the temperatures
Hippocampus and the subiculum accompanying
-it is the Main Efferent Bundle of the emotions
Hippocampal Formation • Somatic Responses
• Head and eye
AMYGDALOID NUCLEAR COMPLEX turning
-gray mass situated in the • Rhythmic
Dorsomedial Portion of the Temporal movements of
Lobe, in front of and partially above chewing, licking,
the tip of the Temporal Horn of the swallowing
Lateral Ventricle • Endocrine Responses - ACTH,
-caudally, it is continuous with the Gonadotropins, Control of Food
Uncus of the Parahippocampal Gyrus and water intake
-subcortical nuclear component of the • CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Limbic System KLUVER-BUCY SYNDROME
-activation results in: Flight (fear) or • Placidity, docility
Fight (defense) Response • Obesity
• Hypersexuality
-divided into two main nuclear • Oral exploratory
masses: behavior
• hyperphagia

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 4

Efferent Pathways: -also found in the Medulla, Lobus
1. STRIA TERMINALIS Cerrulius in Pons and Midbrain
-the most prominent efferent pathway
of the Amygdaloid Nuclear Complex B. SEROTONIN
-most originate from the Corticomedial -comes from fibers of Reticular
Nuclei of the Amygdaloid Nuclear Formation in midbrain & pons which
Complex ascend to send signals to amygdala,
-terminate in the following: septal nuclei, and lateral parts of
• Nuclei in the Stria Terminalis limbic lobe
• Anterior Hypothalamic Nucleus
C. DOPAMINE
• Median Forebrain Bundle
• Medial Preoptic Area  OLFACTORY PATHWAY
Ventrimedial Hypothalamic
Nucleus Paraolfactory area
• Olfactory tract
2. VENTRAL AMYGDALOFUGAL • Olfactory striae
PROJECTION • Anterior perforating substance
-Amygdala has extensive connection • Diagonal band of Broca
with the Hypothalamus (the main
regulatory center of the Autonomic -note: Olfactory Nerve (CN-I) is outside
Nervous System) the brain
-arise from the Basolateral Amygdaloid -olfactory bulb and tract are part of
Nuclei and the Pyriform Cortex the CNS
-terminate in the following:
• Lateral Preoptic Area I. OLFACTORY RECEPTORS
• Hypothalamic Areas -Bipolar Neurons which function as
• Septal Areas Chemoreceptors
• Nucleus of the Diagonal Band of -Bipolar Neurons contain: Peripheral
Broca Process + Central Process
-lifespan = 30-40 days depending on
NEUROTRANSMITTERS OF THE the species
LIMBIC SYSTEM -the Epithelial Surface is covered by a
A. NOREPINEPHRINE layer of Mucus Secreted by the
-highest concentration in the Tubuloalveolar Bowman’s Glands
Hypothalamus

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 5

A. Olfactory Membrane -Axons of the Mitral Cells enter the
-located in the upper and posterior Olfactory Tract as the Secondary
parts of the Nasal Cavity (Superior Olfactory Fibers
Turbinates and the Nasal Septum
-specialized epithelium which covers THREE NEURONS IN THE OLFACTORY
an area about 2.5cm BULB
-contains three cells: Olfactory 1. Mitral Cells
(Receptor) Cells + Sustentacular + -large triangular cells with hairy
Basal / Stem Cells dendrites
-synapse with the Central Processes
B. Bipolar Neurons
1. Peripheral Process 2. Tufted Cells
-Olfactory Rods -smaller cells in the Olfactory Bulb
-project 10-30 fine hairs or cilia which contribuyte to the formation of
the Olfactory Glomerulus
2. Central Process
-unmyelinated Olfactoria Fila 3. Granule Cells
-converge to form Fascicles which -have NO Axons, have Dendritic
pierce through the openings in the Spines (Gemmules) w/c form
Cribiform Plate of the Ethmoid Dendrodendritic connections with the
Bone Mitral Cells
-Primary Olfactory Fibers -they inhibit the Mitral Cells (GABA)
-CN-I: Olfactory Nerve -however, Mitral Cells excite the
Granule Cells
C. Bowman’s Glands
-Mucus Secreting Tubuloalveolar • Olfactory Glomerulus
Glands (Composition)
-contain IgA, IgM, Lactoferrin, Odorant- o Axons of Olfactoria Fila
Binding Proteins, and Lysozyme (Primary Olfactory Fibers)
o Dendrites of the Mitral
II. RHINENCEPHALON / PALEOPALLIUM Cells
-the Primitive Olfactory Lobe o Dendrites of the Tufted
-restricted to those structures in the Cells
Central Nervous System (CNS) that
receive fibers from the Olfactory Bulb B. Olfactory Tract
-Olfactory Bulb, Olfactory Tract, -Secondary Olfactory Fibers
Tubercle, Striae, Anterior Olfactory -consist of the Axons of the
Nucleus, and parts of the Amygdaloid Mitral and Tufted Cells
Nuclear Complex & Prepyriform Cortex
Anterior Olfactory Nucleus (of
A. Olfactory Bulb Olfactory Tract)
-part of the CNS which envaginated -scattered, intermediate-sized groups
from the Telencephalon of Neurons found caudal to the
-rests on the Cribiform Plate Olfactory bulb
-Terminal Nucleus of the CN-I -DENDRITES: pass among the fibers of
(Olfactory Nerve) which is part of the the Olfactory Tract and receive
CNS impulses from the Mitral and Tufted
-Axons (Central Processes) of the Cells
Olfactory Nerve (CN-I) synapse with -AXONS: pass Centrally  Cross
the Dendrites of Mitral Cells in the
Anterior Commissure  Enter
Olfactory Bulb forming the Olfactory
Contralateral Anterior Olfactory
Glomeruli
Nucleus and Olfactory bulb
-receives monoaminergic innervation
with Serotonin Terminals
III. THE OLFACTORY PATHWAY
Olfactory Tract

Medial Olfactory Striae Lateral Olfactory Striae

Continuous with the Prepyriform Region

Subcallosal Area

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 6

 Dendrites of Neurons Cell Bodies of the
Neurons
in the Prepyriform Cortex in Amygdaloid Nuclear
Complex

Entorhinal Cortex (Area 28) Hypothalamus and

Septal Nuclei
and Thalamus
**Parosmia / Dysosmia -perversion
of the sense of smell
IV. PRIMARY OLFACTORY CORTEX **Cacosmia-food having an extremely
-consist of the parts of the Prepyriform unpleasant odor
Cortex and the Periamygdaloid Area
that receives fibers from the Lateral C. Olfactory Hallucinations and
Olfactory Stria Delusions
-occupies a restricted area on the -these disorders are always CENTRAL
Anterior End of the Parahippocampal in origin
Gyrus and Uncus -the patient claims to small an odor
-Brodmann’s Area-34 that no one else can detect
-frequently a consequence of lesions
A. Olfaction involving or irritating the
-the oldest and most primitive of all Parahippocampal Gyrus, Uncus, or the
the senses adjoining areas surrounding the
-unique among the sensory systems in Amygdaloid Nuclear Complex
that impulses carrying sensation of (Temporal Lobe)
smell reach the cortex without -Olfactory Hallucinations, usually
coursing through the Thalamic Nuclei disagreeable in character, may
precede a generalized convulsion
B. Trigeminal System “Uncinate Fits”
-participates in Chemesthesia vis
undifferentiated receptors in the Nasal D. Higher-Order Loss of Olfactory
Mucosa Discrimination
-its receptors are in the Nasal Mucosa -to be able to discriminate and identify
which have limited discriminatory odors, it is necessary that the
activity but has great sensitivity to structures comprising the Olfactory
irritants Lobe (Medial Temporal Lobes and
Medial Dorsal Nuclei) are intact
V. CLNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
-the ability of the Human Nose to **Olfactory Agnosia-the primary
discriminate between thousands of perceptual aspects of smell are intact
different odors is well known but the (patient can smell) BUT patient loses
physiologic bases for such the capacity to distinguish between
discrimination are still unknown odors
-responds primarily to Chemical
Stimuli HYPOTHALAMUS
-Pheromones: chemical stimuli • Located in most medial aspect
exuded by the body or in perfumes of brain along the walls and
which play a part in sexual attraction floor of the III ventricle
-disorders in smell can be unpleasant • Fully functional at birth
but are not serious handicaps • Highly involved in all aspects of
endocrine, hormonal, visceral
DISTURBANCES TO OLFACTION and autonomic functions
A. Quantitative Abnormalities • Exerts controlling influence on
-loss or reduction in the Sense of Smell eating, drinking, the experience
of pleasure, rage and aversion
*Anosmia-most frequent clinical
abnormality Like amygdala, it is sexually
-Unilateral Anosmia is of great clinical dysmorphic based on the +/- of
significance as it may help to localize testosterone during fetal development
an Intracranial Lesion Testoterone exposure should occur
before period of neuronal
B. Qualitative abnormalities differentiation
-distortions or illusions of smell

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 7

• If testosterone is absent during fetal
development -> female pattern of
neuronal development
• This affects sex difference in thinking,
sexual orientation, aggression and
cognitive functioning
•Medial hypothalamus
• Aversion reaction; if
stimulated feeling of
fullness; controls
parasympathetic activity;
decreases HR and BP;
increases peripheral
circulation
•Lateral hypothalamus
• Mediates sympathetic
activity
• If stimulated, increases
compulsive eating and
drinking; increases HR
and BP
• Hypothalamus monitors internal
homeostasis
• When stimulated, leads to
emotional incontinence - • a major relay station
uncontrolled laughter and
crying
• Responsible for the “Id“
“The hypothalamus, like our
exceedingly ancient and primitive Id,
has an eye that only sees inward. It
can tell if the body needs nourishment
but cannot determine what might be
good to eat. It can feel thirst but has
no way of satisfying this desire. The
hypothalamus can only say ”I want”,
“I need” and can only signal pleasure
and displeasure. However, being the
seat of pleasure, the hypothalamus
can be exceedingly gracious in
rewarding the organism when its
needs are met. Conversely, taken its
needs go unmet, it can respond not
only with displeasure or aversion but
NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System
with undirected fury and rage. It can
cause the organisms to cry out.”…
“…Over the course of the first month
of life, as the amygdala and the
hippocampus develop, the organism
begin to develop an eye that not only
sees outward but that can register
and recall events, objects, people,and
so forth associated with tension
reduction,pleasure, satiety of internal
needs. This is called ‘learning’.”
With the maturation of these limbic
nuclei, the infant is increasingly able
to differentiate what occurs in the
internal and external environment,
based on hypothalamically-monitored
needs and the emotional-motivational
significance of that which is
experienced. The infant can now
orient, selectively attend, determine
what brings satisfaction and store this
information as memory.”
SEPTAL AREA
• receives input from multiple
midbrain nuclei, the substantia
nigra, the CA1 region of the
cornu ammonis, the subiculum,
amygdala, lateral
hypothalamus, cingulate gyrus,
and mamillary bodies
• efferent fibers project to the
entire hippocampal formation,
the habenula, hypothalamus,
thalamus, amygdala, mamillary
bodies and the cerebral cortex
Septal Nuclei
Cortical portion
• Subcallosal area
• Paraterminal gyrus
Subcortical portion
• Medial septal
nuclei
• Lateral septal
nuclei
IV. CIRCUITS IN THE LIMBIC LOBE
-there are three main circuits related
to emotion
-ex) when we are about to get into a
fight:
o Frontal Lobe and
Cingulate Gyrus will
assess the situation (kaya
ko ba ‘to?)
8
 o Hipocampus involves o Hypothalamus says
memory (may nakaaway “Increase blood pressure,
ito last week at na-injure) Increase heart rate, Get
o Septal Area read for fight or flight”

**NOTE: figure above is a combination cord,midbrain,hypophysis,thala

of the following circuits: mus,hypothalamus
• Hippocampal Formation (cortex STRIA MEDULLARIS - FASCICULUS
 hippocampus) ROUTE
• Papez Circuit o Thalamus -> Habenula ->
• Septohypothalamomesencephal Midbrain
ic Continuum
• Bundle of Vicq d’ Azyr System connecting different
parts of the Limbic Forebrain
Connections of the Limbic and Cortex
-PAPEZ CIRCUIT
System Hippocampus -> thru fornix ->
mamillary body, septal area,preoptic
Systems connecting Limbic nucleus ->anterior thalamus ->
Forebrain to the Midbrain cingulate gyrus + fibers from inferior
-SEPTO-HYPOTHALMO- parietal lobule -> Cingulum ->
MESENCEPHALIC CONTINUUM Hippocampus
-also called Nauta’s Limbic Midbrain
Circuit -“Limbic Parts of the Brain”
-starts from the Septal Nuclei (in -elaborates the function of Central
septal area)  Hypothalamus  Emotion and participates in Emotional
Mesencephalic Expression
-the pathway which uses the Fornix
-starts with Hippocampus (main
outflow is CA1 and Subicculum)
-Hippocampus  Fornix  Septal Area

• Orbitofrontal cortex -> septal

nuclei thru hypothalamus -->
MFB ->

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 9

BUNDLE OF VICQ D’ AZYR-starts from
the Mammillay Bodies  Hippocampus

Normal vs Abnormal Cortex

NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 10

 Pictures above show hippocampal atrophy [arrows]
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NEUROANATOMY: Limbic System 11