BIO 2215 Lecture Notes - Autonomic Nervous System, Diencephalon, Epithalamus
Document Summary
Second of the three basic regions of cerebral hemispheres. Responsible for communication between cerebral areas, and between cortex and lower cns. Large fiber that connects the two hemispheres is called the corpus callosum. Third of the three basic regions of the cerebrum. Receive input from the entire cerebral cortex. Influence muscle movements: plays a role in cognition and emotion, regulate the intensity of slow or stereotyped movements, filter out incorrect/inappropriate responses. Consists of three paired gray-matter structures: thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus. Functions: main thalamic function is to act as a relay station for information coming into the cortex, sorts, edits, and relays ascending input as: Impulses from the cerebellum and basal nuclei to help direct motor cortices. Impulses from the hypothalamus for regulating emotion and visceral function. Overall, it acts to mediate sensation, motor activities, cortical arousal, learning, and memory. Infundibulum: stalk that connects to the pituitary gland. Main visceral control and regulating center that is vital to homeostasis.
