Thalamus (English)

This illustration shows a horizontal section of the brain (at the level of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricles). Part of the cerebral hemispheres has been removed in order to reveal the deeper subcortical structures and mainly the thalamus and the surrounding structures. Being located near the center of the brain, the thalamus forms several important relations with the surrounding structures. It comprises the superior and lateral walls of the third ventricle, while its dorsal surface comprises the portion of the floor of the lateral ventricle. The dorsal and caudal surfaces of the thalamus are closely related to the hippocampus and fornix that extend from the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle to the mammillary bodies. Laterally, the thalamus limits the posterior arm of the internal capsule. The medial surfaces of the bilateral thalami are interconnected medially via interthalamic adhesion. The overall appearance of the thalamus may seem smooth with the exception of two protuberances on the caudoventral surface. These are the medial and lateral geniculate bodies, which are responsible for the processing of auditory and visual sensory inputs, respectively.