Thalamus

Watch video

The thalamus is the largest subcortical gray mass of the central nervous system. It is part of the diencephalon (and its main constituent) along with other structures such as the subthalamus, epithalamus and hypothalamus. It is positioned above the midbrain (mesencephalon), which affords it a strategic position for integrating information that travels from the cerebral cortex to the rest of the nervous system and vice versa.

The thalamus has an anterior and posterior pole and four surfaces. The thalamus is bounded anteriorly by the interventricular foramen (of Montro) and posteriorly by the atrium of the lateral ventricle. Medially, the thalamus builds the lateral wall of the third ventricle, while laterally it closely relates with the posterior limb of the internal capsule. The dorsal surface of the thalamus contributes to the formation of the floor of the lateral ventricle. The ventral surface of the thalamus is limited by the hypothalamic sulcus that separates the hypothalamus and thalamus.

The thalamus has many important functions, but in general, it is considered to be a relay station that relays information between different subcortical areas and the cerebral cortex.

The following video will provide a comprehensive overview of the gross anatomy of the thalamus and the related subcortical structures.

Take a quiz

Now that you have watched the videos about the thalamus, solidify your knowledge by taking our quiz.

Do you have more knowledge about the subcortical structures that needs to be tested? Try our custom quiz and choose your own topics!

Browse atlas

Take a closer look at the thalamus in the gallery below. 

Summary