Thalamus

The thalamus (from GREEK = bedroom, chamber) Functionally considered as the great

sensory gateway to the cerebral cortex

Functions of Thalamus

Sensory integration and relay station for all the sensory pathways

Except Olfactory Recognition of crude pain Temperature & touch

Influences voluntary movements by receiving impulses from

Basal ganglia Cerebellum Participates in maintenance of state

of wakefulness & alertness through RAS

Role in emotions & recent memory

Brain stemBrain stem

The brain stem is the lower part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord.

Parts of brain stem: Pons Medulla oblongata Midbrain

PonsPons

Relays sensory information between the cerebellum and cerebrum.

Control of respiration: The apneustic center - lower pons The pneumotaxic center - upper

pons

A number of cranial nerve nuclei are present in the pons (from top to bottom):

The trigeminal nerve, abducen nucleus, vestibulocochlear nuclei, facial nerve nucleus

Medulla oblongataMedulla oblongata

Function: controls autonomic functions: Respiration Blood pressure Heart rate Reflex arcs Vomiting

Relays nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord

Cranial nerve nuclei: The hypoglossal nerve Glossopharyngeal and Vagus nerves.

Reticular formationReticular formation

Diffuse network of fibersDiffuse network of fibers Control physical behaviors Sleep Fatigue Motivation to perform various

activities, walking, eating, urination

spinal cord

The spinal cord is an extension of the brain

Enclosed in and protected by the bony Vertebral column Main function

Transmission of neural inputs between the periphery and the brain. The peripheral regions of the spinal cord contains neuronal white matter tracts containing sensory and motor neurons. The central region is gray matter that contains nerve cell bodies.

The spinal cord is divided into 31 different segments: 8 cervical segments 12 thoracic segments 5 lumbar segments 5 sacral segments 1 coccygeal segment

Connections between brain Connections between brain and spinal cordand spinal cord

The corticospinal or pyramidal tract is a massive collection of axons that travel between the cerebral cortex of the brain and the spinal cord.