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The Intermediate Brain
Last reviewed: 27.11.2021
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The intermediate brain (diencephalon) on the whole brain drug is not available for viewing, since it is completely hidden under the cerebral hemispheres. Only on the basis of the brain can you see the central part of the midbrain - the hypothalamus.
The gray matter of the intermediate brain is composed of nuclei belonging to the subcortical centers of all kinds of sensitivity. In the intermediate brain are located the reticular formation, the centers of the extrapyramidal system, vegetative centers (regulate all kinds of metabolism), neurosecretory nuclei.
The white matter of the intermediate brain is represented by conducting routes of the ascending and descending directions, providing a two-way connection of the subcortical formations with the cortex of the large brain and the nuclei of the trunk and spinal cord. In addition, two glands of internal secretion, the pituitary gland, participate together with the corresponding nuclei of the hypothalamus in the formation of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, and the epiphysis of the brain (the pineal body) to the intermediate brain.
The borders of the diencephalon on the basis of the brain are from the rear - the anterior edge of the rear perforated substance and the visual tracts, in front - the front surface of the visual crossover. On the dorsal surface, the posterior border is a furrow that separates the upper mounds of the midbrain from the posterior edges of the thalamus. Anterolateral border divides the intermediate brain and the terminal one from the dorsal side. It is formed by a terminal strip (stria terminalis), corresponding to the boundary between the thalamus and the inner capsule.
The intermediate brain includes the following divisions: the thalamic region (visual eye area, visual brain), which is located in the dorsal areas; Hypothalamus, uniting the ventral divisions of the diencephalon; III ventricle.
Talamic area
The thalamic region includes the thalamus, metatalamus and epithalamus.
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus (hypothalamus) forms the lower parts of the intermediate brain and participates in the formation of the bottom of the third ventricle. The hypothalamus includes the visual crossover, the visual tract, the gray hillock with a funnel, and mastoid bodies.
The third ventricle
The third (III) ventriculus (ventriculus tertius) occupies a central position in the diencephalon. The cavity of the ventricle looks like a sagittally located narrow slit, bounded by 6 walls: two lateral, upper, lower, anterior and posterior. The lateral walls of the third ventricle are the medial surfaces of the thalamuses facing each other, as well as the medial subthalamic regions below the hypothalamic furrow.