diencephalon

Brain: Diencephalon
Diagram depicting the main subdivisions of the embryonic vertebrate brain. These regions will later differentiate into forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain structures.
Reconstruction of peripheral nerves of a human embryo of 10.2 mm. (Label for Diencephalon is at left.)
Latin	diencephalon
Gray's	subject #189 807
NeuroNames	hier-271
MeSH	Diencephalon
Code	TH H3.11.03.5.00001
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_1503

The diencephalon ("interbrain") is the region of the vertebrate neural tube which gives rise to posterior forebrain structures. In development, the forebrain develops from the prosencephalon, the most anterior vesicle of the neural tube which later forms both the diencephalon and the telencephalon. In adults, the Diencephalon appears at the upper end of the brain stem, situated between the cerebrum and the brain stem. It is made up of four distinct components: the thalamus, the subthalamus, the hypothalamus and the epithalamus.^[1]

Organization

• diencephalon
  • mid-diencephalic territory
    • prethalamus
    • zona limitans intrathalamica
    • thalamus
  • hypothalamus
  • epithalamus
  • pretectum
  • pineal gland

Roles

The diencephalon is the region of the embryonic vertebrate neural tube that gives rise to posterior forebrain structures including the thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior portion of the pituitary gland, and pineal gland. The hypothalamus performs numerous vital functions, most of which relate directly or indirectly to the regulation of visceral activities by way of other brain regions and the autonomic nervous system.

Diencephalon

Three-dimensional representation

See also

• List of regions in the human brain
• Neothalamus

References

1. ^ Jacobson & Marcus (2008). Neuroanatomy for the Neuroscientist. Springer. pp. 147. ISBN 9780387709703. 

External links

• BrainMaps at UCDavis diencephalon

• NIF Search - Diencephalon via the Neuroscience Information Framework

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