CIRCLE OF WILLIS

Rotating the brain so that we have a view from the left side, we can now more clearly see how the ANTERIOR supply
originating to the carotid artery distributes blood primarily to the middle and front portions of the brain and
the POSTERIOR supply the originating from the basilar artery supplies mostly the brain stem and rear portions of
the brain
And the prime example of natures wonderful design there is a communicating artery (ANASTOMOSIS) which
joins the two systems known as the posterior communicating artery. This vessel is part of the circle of Willis.
In the event that there is sudden impairment of blood flow to the brain from either the anterior-posterior
system, the communicating arteries allow for crossover flow which may help to prevent damage to the portion
of the brain affected by the impaired flow.
THALAMUS
There is a thalamus in each cerebral hemisphere just above the brainstem. The thalamus is often described as a RELAY
STATION because a great deal of the information that proceeds to the cerebral cortex first stops in the thalamus before
being sent to its destination. The thalamus is subdivided into a number of nuclei that possess functional specializations for
dealing with particular types of information.
For example, all sensory information except olfaction travels directly from sensory receptors to a nucleus in thalamus
specialized for dealing with that type of sensory data. Then the information is sent from the thalamus to the appropriate area
of the cortex where it is further processed.
As many 50 distinct nuclei have been identified in the thalamus but I will discuss just a few of the better known nuclei in this
video.
Each of these nuclei has multiple functions; I will only mention one or two of the best known functions here.

At the anterior of the thalamus, there is a nucleus called the ANTERIOR NUCLEUS. It is extensively connected to
the hippocampus and is thought to be involved in memory.
The DORSOMEDIAL NUCLEUS is thought to be involved in emotional behavior and memory.
The VENTRAL ANTERIOR NUCLEUS and VENTROLATERAL NUCLEUS are thought to be involved in motor
functions.
The VENTRAL POSTEROLATERAL NUCLEUS, or VPL, and the VENTRAL POSTERIOMEDIAL NUCLEUS, or VPM,
both act as relay nuclei for sending somatosensory information to the somatosensory cortex.
The LATERAL POSTERIOR NUCLEUS is thought to be involved with integrating sensory input and associating
it with cognitive functions.
The PULVINAR NUCLEUS is a large nucleus that is involved in processing visual stimuli.
The MEDIAL GENICULATE NUCLEUS and LATERAL GENICULATE NUCLEUS serve as important relays for
auditory and visual information, respectively.
The RETICULAR NUCLEUS forms a sheet that makes up the outer covering of the thalamus; it influences the
activity of other nuclei within the thalamus.
There are also number of nuclei not visible in this image, such as the CENTROMEDIAN NUCLEUS, which is thought
to be involved in attention and arousal