The diencephalon is the deep central core of the forebrain, sitting between the cerebral hemispheres and the midbrain and wrapped around the third ventricle. It is made up of four parts: the thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus and subthalamus. Almost every signal travelling up to the cerebral cortex, and much of the brain's control of hormones and body state, passes through it.
| Location | Centre of the brain, above the midbrain and beneath the cerebral hemispheres, forming the side walls and floor of the third ventricle |
|---|---|
| Parts | |
| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Posterior cerebral artery (thalamoperforating and thalamogeniculate branches); Posterior communicating artery; Anterior choroidal artery; Posterior choroidal arteries |
Relays and filters sensory and motor information on its way to the cortex, regulates wakefulness and attention, and controls the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system through the hypothalamus and pituitary.
Because the diencephalon is small and densely packed, a single small stroke can cause striking deficits such as contralateral sensory loss or disordered consciousness. Masses around the third ventricle (craniopharyngioma, colloid cyst, germinoma) can cause hormone problems, visual field loss and hydrocephalus together. Bilateral damage to the medial diencephalon can produce profound amnesia or coma.
Small vessel or posterior circulation infarction of the thalamus, typically producing contralateral sensory loss and sometimes later a burning central pain syndrome.
A benign but locally aggressive tumour arising near the infundibulum that can compress the hypothalamus and optic chiasm, causing hormone deficiency, obesity and visual field loss.
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