What does Diencephalic mean?
: the posterior subdivision of the forebrain. — called also betweenbrain, interbrain.
What would happen if the diencephalon is damaged?
Specifically, the diencephalon may serve as a link between limbic and cortical structures, and damage to the diencephalon can contribute to amnesia through what has been called a “disconnection syndrome” (Warrington and Weiskrantz 1982; Markowitsch 1988; Aggleton and Brown 1999).
What is the diencephalon responsible for?
The diencephalon acts as a primary relay and processing center for sensory information and autonomic control. The plethora of communicating pathways between these structures and other parts of the body makes the diencephalon a functionally diverse area.
Where is the diencephalon located?
the brain
The diencephalon can be found just above the brainstem between the cerebral hemispheres; it forms the walls of the third ventricle. The only part of the diencephalon that can be seen without taking a cross-section of the brain is the bottom-most portion of the hypothalamus.
What is the function of diencephalon?
The diencephalon is involved in many crucial bodily functions including coordinating with the endocrine system to release hormones, relaying sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and regulating circadian rhythms (the sleep wake cycle).
Where is the diencephalon?
The diencephalon (or interbrain) is a division of the forebrain (embryonic prosencephalon), and is situated between the telencephalon and the midbrain (embryonic mesencephalon). The diencephalon has also been known as the ‘tweenbrain in older literature.
What is a diencephalic tumor?
Diencephalic syndrome is a rare disorder caused by a tumor that is usually located in the diencephalon, a portion of the brain just above the brainstem. The diencephalon includes the hypothalamus and the thalamus.
What causes diencephalic syndrome?
The reason for the development of the tumor that causes diencephalic syndrome is unknown. Diencephalic syndrome was first described in the medical literature in 1951 by Dr. Russell. The specific symptoms and severity of diencephalic syndrome can vary from one person to another.
What is the prognosis of diencephalic syndrome?
Diencephalic syndrome can progress to cause severe, life-threatening complications. Diencephalic syndrome is treated by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and/or molecular-targeted therapy. The reason for the development of the tumor that causes diencephalic syndrome is unknown.
How common is diencephalic syndrome in neurofibromatosis type 1?
The development of a tumor in the hypothalamus and optic chiasm in neurofibromatosis type 1 and the subsequent development of diencephalic syndrome is not common, but does occur. For more information, choose “neurofibromatosis” as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.