Thalamus and hypothalamus — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Which thalamic nucleus receives input from the trigeminal nerve and gustatory pathway? _____

Answer: Ventral posteromedial (VPM)

Flashcard 2: Which thalamic nucleus receives input from the spinothalamic tract and dorsal columns? _____

Answer: Ventral posterolateral (VPL)

Flashcard 3: Which thalamic nuclei (2) receive motor input from the basal ganglia and cerebellum? _____

Answer: Ventral anterior (VA) / Ventral lateral (VL)

Flashcard 4: What is the destination of the ventral posteromedial (VPM) nucleus of the thalamus?_____

Answer: Primary somatosensory cortex

Flashcard 5: The connections between the hypothalamus and the _____ pituitary are neural only

Answer: posterior

Flashcard 6: Which nucleus of the Hypothalamus is responsible for both thermoregulation and sexual behavior?_____

Answer: Preoptic Nucleus

Flashcard 7: What syndrome is associated with lesion of the following areas? 1. Spinothalamic tract 2. Spinal trigeminal nucleus 3. Hypothalamospinal tract 4. Nucleus ambiguus (CN IX, X) 5. Vestibular nucleus (CN VIII) 6. Inferior cerebellar peduncle

Answer: Lateral medullary (Wallenberg) syndrome

Flashcard 8: What is an Argyll-Robertson pupil?

Answer: pupil that is unreactive to light but constricts with accomodation

Flashcard 9: Embryological origin of the neurohypophysis

Answer: Neuroectoderm (Diencephalon)

Extra: The neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) develops from a downward extension of the neuroectoderm from the floor of the diencephalon (the infundibulum). In contrast, the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) develops from Rathke's pouch (oral ectoderm).

Flashcard 10: pineal gland

Answer: neuroectoderm