DIENCEPHALON

Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Epithalamus, Subthalamus and Metathalamus.

Location of thalamus
The thalamus is a
large mass of grey matter cells located on each side of the 3rd ventricle superior to hypothalamus.

Relations
Anterior end: It is narrow and lies near
the median plane forming the posterior boundary of the interventricular foramen. Posterior end: It is expanded and called pulvinar. It is overhanging the superior colliculus and its brachium. This end projects backwards behind the posterior wall of the 3rd ventricle and accordingly its medial surface is not covered by ependyma.

Surfaces of thalamus
There are 4 surfaces superior inferior lateraL medial surfaces. There are also two ends anterior and posterior ends.

 Superior surface:

from lateral to medial: 1. Body of caudate nucleus. 2. Stria terminalis. 3. Thalamostriate vein. 4. Body of lateral ventricle. 5. Choroid plexus. 6. Fornix.

 Inferior surface:
Related to the subthalamus, hypothalamus and tegmentum of the midbrain. Lateral surface: It is related to the posterior limb of the internal capsule which separates it from the lentiform nucleus.

Medial surface: related to the cavity of the 3rd ventricle, forming the lateral boundary of this ventricle. The upper edge of this surface is related to a band of white matter called stria medullaris thalami (or stria habenularis). This surface is connected to the corresponding surface of the opposite thalamus by a band of grey matter called interthalamic adhesion or connexus.

Internal structure:
The thalamus is a grey matter, its superior
surface is covered by a layer of white matter, called stratum zonale; its lateral surface is also covered by a white matter called external medullary lamina. Internally, the thalamic grey matter is incompletely divided by a vertical sheet of white matter called internal medullary lamina, which in a Y- shaped manner. Accordingly, the main mass of the thalamus is divided into 3 major parts: anterior, medial and lateral.

 Anterior part: Medial part: Lateral part: Lying lateral to the internal

medullary lamina. This large part is further subdivided into dorsolateral and ventromedial divisions. This part is continuous posteriorly with the pulvinar.

Thalamic nuclei:

I. Anterior group. II. Medial group: The nucleus medialis dorsalis (mediodorsal) III. Lateral group: Nucleus lateralis dorsalis (LD). Nucleus lateralis posterior (LP). Pulvinar nucleus (P). IV. Ventral group: Nucleus ventralis anterior (VA). Nucleus ventralis intermedius (VI) also called nucleus ventralis Nucleus ventralis posterior which is further subdivided into: 1.Nucleus ventralis posterior medialis (VPM). 2.Nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis (VPL) V. Non-specific group.

I: Anterior group. II. Medial group. LD: Nucleus lateralis dorsalis. LP: Nucleus lateralis posterior. VA: Nucleus ventralis anterior. VI: Nucleus ventralis intermedius. VPM: Nucleus ventralis posterior medialis. VPL: Nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis

Thalamic radiations:
Anterior thalamic radiation Superior thalamic radiation Posterior thalamic radiation Inferior thalamic radiation

Blood supply of the thalamus:

posterior communicating, posterior cerebral and basilar arteries.

Hypothalamus Position & Relations:

extends from the lamina terminalis to the mammillary
bodies, and from the hypothalamic sulcus to the floor of the 3rd ventricle; i.e., it includes the contents of the interpeduncular fossa, and thus the hypothalamus consists of: The optic chiasma region. The tuber cinereum with its eminence and the stalk of the pituitary gland. The mammillary bodies. The posterior perforated substance (not usually included in the hypothalamus).

Metathalamus
metathalamus consists of the medial and lateral geniculate bodies which lie on the inferior surface of the pulvinar of the thalamus.

Medial geniculate body:

It is a small ovoid mass of grey matter situated just lateral to the superior colliculus of the midbrain, and is connected with the inferior colliculus by the brachium of the inferior colliculus. It is a relay nucleus in the pathway of hearing.

Lateral lemniscus auditory area

MGB

Auditory radiation

Lateral geniculate body:

It is connected with the optic tract (in front), and the

brachium of the superior colliculus (behind). It receives most of the fibers of the optic tract carrying visual impulses. It sends efferent fibers in the form of optic radiation to the visual area (area 17). LGB optic radiation

Optic tract

visual area.

Subthalamus
The subthalamus is a part of the
diencephalon just above the tegmentum of the midbrain The subthalamus contains mainly the subthalamic nucleus. It is a large nucleus which lies above the sustantia nigra and medial to the internal capsule.

Epithalamus
1. Pineal body (gland). 2. Habenular nuclei. 3. Stria medullaris thalami. 4. Habenular commissure. 5. Posterior commissure .