In the human brain, the diencephalon (or interbrain
The diencephalon is one of the main brain vesicle formed during embryonic development. During the third week of development a neural tube is created from the ectoderm, one of the three primary , and forms three main vesicles: the prosencephalon, the Midbrain and the Hindbrain. The prosencephalon gradually divides into the telencephalon (the cerebrum) and the diencephalon.
Structure
The diencephalon consists of the following structures:
Attachments
The
optic nerve (CNII) attaches to the diencephalon. The optic nerve is a sensory (afferent) nerve responsible for vision and
sight; it runs from the eye through the
optic canal in the
human skull and attaches to the diencephalon. The
retina itself is derived from the optic cup, a part of the embryonic diencephalon.
Function
The diencephalon is the region of the embryonic vertebrate
neural tube that gives rise to anterior
forebrain structures including the
thalamus,
hypothalamus, posterior portion of the
pituitary gland, and the
pineal gland. The diencephalon encloses a cavity called the third ventricle. The thalamus serves as a relay centre for sensory and motor impulses between the spinal cord and medulla oblongata, and the cerebrum. It recognizes sensory impulses of heat, cold, pain, pressure etc. The floor of the third ventricle is called the hypothalamus. It has control centres for control of eye movement and hearing responses.
==Additional images==
See also
-
Diencephalic syndrome
-
List of regions in the human brain
External links
