Basic Functions
This gland is often called the "master gland" because it regulates several important bodily functions through hormone secretion.
Pituitary Gland
This structure plays a crucial role in the production and regulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain.
Choroid Plexus
Damage to this structure could disrupt the body's ability to regulate temperature, hunger, and other essential functions.
Hypothalamus
This structure is a bundle of nerves connecting the two cerebral hemispheres. It facilitates communication between the left and right hemispheres and allows them to work together as a whole.
Anterior Commissure
This part of the brain coordinates voluntary movements, balance, and ensures smooth motor activities by forming a unique white matter pattern.
Arbor Vitae
This structure is a small, pinecone-shaped gland located in the diencephalon of the brain. It secretes the hormone melatonin, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
Pineal Gland
This brain structure is where the optic nerves from both eyes meet and partially cross over to process visual information.
Optic Chiasma
These small paired structures in the hypothalamus are crucial for processing and transmitting information related to the sense of smell. They’re also linked to emotional responses and memory.
Mammillary Body
Damage to this structure could lead to impaired visual and auditory reflexes, affecting the body's response to sensory stimuli.
Corpora Quadrigermina
This structure connects two thalamic nuclei and serves more as an anatomical feature than a functionally active one.
Interthalamic Adhesion
This structure is involved in initiating reflex responses to sensory stimuli, enabling the body to react quickly to visual and auditory cues.
Corpora Quadrigermina
Damage to this structure could impair communication between the brain's hemispheres, disrupting the coordination of complex cognitive functions like memory, motor control, and problem-solving.
Posterior Commissure
This structure connects various regions of the limbic system, linking the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies and playing a key role in emotional responses, memory, and learning.
Formix
Damage to this structure could result in severe disruption of the circadian rhythm, potentially leading to sleep disorders, mood changes, and cognitive impairment due to its regulation of melatonin.
Pineal Gland
Disruption to this area could affect emotional processing and memory recall, leading to challenges in behavior and potentially altering hormonal regulation due to its role in the limbic system and endocrine functions.
Epithalamus