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thalamus
(thal´ә-mәs)
either of two large round structures, the dorsal thalamus or simply thalamus and the subthalamus or ventral thalamus. It is composed of gray matter and located at the base of the cerebrum. It functions as a relay station in which sensory pathways from the spinal cord and brainstem form synapses on their way to the cerebral cortex. Specific locations in the thalamus are related to specific areas on the body surface and in the cerebral cortex. A sensory
impulse from the body surface travels upward to the thalamus, where it is received as a primitive sensation and then is sent
on to the cerebral cortex for interpretation as to location, character, and length of time. The thalamus has numerous connections
to other areas of the brain as well, and these are thought to be important in the integration of cerebral, cerebellar, and
brainstem activity. adj., thalam´ic., adj.
ventral thalamus
subthalamus.
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