4. The thalamus is perched on top of the
brainstem, near the center of the brain,
with nerve fibers projecting out to the
cerebral cortex in all directions. It
surrounds the third ventricle.
Both parts of this structure of the
brain in the human are each about the
size and shape of a walnut
5. • It may be thought of as a kind of
switchboard of information. It is generally
believed to act as a relay between a variety
of subcortical areas and the cerebral cortex.
6. • The hypothalamus is located below the
thalamus, just above the brain stem
The hypothalamus is responsible for
certain metabolic processes and other
activities of the autonomic nervous system
7. Major control center of
autonomic nervous
system and endocrine
system.
Centers associated with:
* Food/H2O intake
* Thermoregulation
* Cardiovascular
regulation
* Hormone secretion
* Sleep/waking
* Emotional behavior
8. • The pineal gland (also called the pineal body, or
the "third eye") is a small endocrine gland in the
vertebrate brain.
• It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a
hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep
patterns and seasonal functions. Its shape
resembles a tiny pine cone
9. • the pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an
endocrine gland
the pituitary is functionally connected to the hypothalamus
by the median eminence via a small tube called the
infundibular stem (Pituitary stalk)
10. • The optic chiasm or optic chiasma (from
the Greek χιάζω'to mark with an X', after
the Greek letter 'Χ', chi)
• is the part of the brain where the optic
nerves (CN II) partially cross. The optic
chiasm is located at the bottom of the brain
immediately below the hypothalamus.
