Epithalamus

(anatomy) A division of the vertebrate diencephalon including the habenula, the pineal body, and the posterior commissure.

A dorsal segment of the diencephalon containing the habenula and the pineal body.

The part of the diencephalon just superior and posterior to the thalamus, comprising the pineal body and adjacent structures; considered by some to include the stria medullaris.

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Brain: Epithalamus
Mesal aspect of a brain sectioned in the median sagittal plane. Epithalamus labeled in red, by 'habenular commissure', 'pineal body', and 'posterior commissure', with its projection anteriorly consisting stria medullaris
Latin	epithalamus
Gray's	subject #189 812
NeuroNames	hier-275
MeSH	Epithalamus
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_1710

The epithalamus is a dorsal posterior segment of the diencephalon (a segment in the middle of the brain also containing the hypothalamus and the thalamus) which includes the habenula, the stria medullaris and the pineal body. Its function is the connection between the limbic system to other parts of the brain.

Functions

Some functions of its components include the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland.

Components

The epithalamus comprises the trigonum habenulæ, the pineal body, and the posterior commissure.

External links

• Overview at University of Idaho
• http://isc.temple.edu/neuroanatomy/lab/atlas/pdhn/
• NIF Search - Epithalamus via the Neuroscience Information Framework

v • d • e Brain: diencephalon Epithalamus Pineal body • Habenula (Habenular nuclei) • Stria medullaris • Habenular trigone • Habenular commissure Thalamus/nuclei paired: AN • Ventral (VA/VL, VP/VPM/VPL) • Lateral (Pulvinar) • Metathalamus (MG, LG) midline: MD • Intralaminar (Centromedian) • Midline nuclear group • Interthalamic adhesion • Medullary laminae surface: reticular tracts to thalamus: Mammillothalamic tract • Thalamic fasciculus • Lenticular fasciculus • Ansa lenticularis • Medial lemniscus • Trigeminal lemniscus • Spinothalamic tract • Lateral lemniscus • Dentatothalamic tract Hypothalamus Autonomic zones Anterior (parasympathetic/heat loss) • Posterior (sympathetic/heat conservation) Endocrine posterior pituitary: magnocellular/Paraventricular/Supraoptic (oxytocin/vasopressin) other: parvocellular/Arcuate (dopamine/GHRH) • Preoptic (GnRH) • Suprachiasmatic (melatonin) Emotion Lateral (hunger) • Ventromedial (satiety) • Dorsomedial (rage) Other surface: Median eminence/Tuber cinereum • Mammillary body • Infundibulum tracts: Medial forebrain bundle Pituitary: (Posterior is diencephalon, but anterior is glandular) Subthalamus Subthalamic nucleus • Zona incerta

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