Subthalamus

Subthalamus
Coronal slices of human brain showing the basal ganglia, subthalamic nucleus (STN) and substantia nigra (SN). STN is in subthalamus; SN is not.
Identifiers
MeSHD020530
NeuroNames434
NeuroLex IDbirnlex_708
TA98A14.1.08.201
A14.1.08.701
TA25708
FMA62010
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
Not to be confused with Hypothalamus.

The subthalamus or ventral thalamus is a part of the diencephalon.[1] Its most prominent structure is the subthalamic nucleus. The subthalamus connects to the globus pallidus, a subcortical nucleus of the basal ganglia.[2]

Structure

The subthalamus is located ventral to the thalamus, medial to the internal capsule and lateral to the hypothalamus. It is a region formed by several grey matter nuclei and their associated white matter structures, namely:[3]

During development the subthalamus is continuous with the hypothalamus, but is separated by white matter fibres mainly from the internal capsule. Caudally, the subthalamus or prethalamus is separated from the thalamus by the zona limitans intrathalamica.[citation needed]

Postnatally, the subthalamus lies beneath the thalamus, hence 'sub' (meaning below) 'thalamus'. It also lies dorsolateral to the hypothalamus.

Connections

The subthalamus develops efferent (output) connections to the striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen) in the telencephalon, to the dorsal thalamus (medial and lateral nuclear groups) in the diencephalon, and to the red nucleus and substantia nigra in the mesencephalon. It receives afferent (input) connections from the substantia nigra and striatum.

References

  1. ^ Haines, Duane (2018). Fundamental neuroscience for basic and clinical applications (Fifth ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. p. 222. ISBN 9780323396325.
  2. ^ Schünke, Michael; Ross, Lawrence M.; Schulte, Erik; Lamperti, Edward D.; Schumacher, Udo (2007). Theme atlas of anatomy: head and neuroanathomy. ISBN 9781588904416.
  3. ^ Carpenter, M. (1991). Core Text of Neuroanatomy. Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-0683014570.
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