Question

Why does the diencephalon play a vitally important role in the coordination of body functions? Explain and give an example.

Answer 1

Answer:-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.The diencephalon is a division of the forebrain, and is situated between the telencephalon and the midbrain. It consists of structures that are on either side of the third ventricle, including the thalamus, the hypothalamus, the epithalamus and the subthalamus.The diencephalon is one of the main vesicles of the brain formed during embryogenesis. During the third week of development a neural tube is created from the ectoderm, one of the three primary germ layers. The tube forms three main vesicles during the third week of development: the prosencephalon, the mesencephalon and the rhombencephalon. The prosencephalon gradually divides into the telencephalon and the diencephalon.

Each of the components of the diencephalon has specialized functions that are integral to life. 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. Some of these connections include pathways to the limbic system(seat of memory and emotion), basal ganglia (motor coordination), as well as primary sensory areas, such as auditory or visual.The diencephalon involved in many crucial body functions including coordinating with the endocrine system to release hormone, relaying sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex and regulating circadian rhythms (the sleep wake circle).

Diencephalon Function

• Sense impulses throughout the body.
• Autonomic function
• Endocrine function
• Motor function
• Homeostasis.
• Hearing, vision, smell, and taste.
• Touch perception.