What is the thalamus?

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It is called the thalamus. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a pair of egg-shaped masses of gray matter deep within the cerebrum.

Summary

It is called the thalamus. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a pair of egg-shaped masses of gray matter deep within the cerebrum.

What it is

  • A pair of egg-shaped masses of gray matter deep within the cerebrum.
  • Acts as a relay station for most sensory information on its way to the cerebral cortex.
  • Also plays a role in alertness and consciousness.

Where it is

  • On each side of the third ventricle.
  • Deep in the center of the brain.
  • Just above the hypothalamus.

Sources

According to Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body (1918, public domain):

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