Word parts
What it means
A relay station in the middle of the brain, just above the hypothalamushy-poh-THAL-uh-musA small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.hypo- belowthalamus inner chamber (a part of the brain)Full entry . Almost all signals from the senses, except smell, pass through the thalamus on the way to the cortexKOR-teksThe outer layer of an organ, especially the folded gray outer layer of the brain.cortic/o cortex, outer layerFull entry . It also helps control alertness, sleep and movement. A stroke in the thalamus can cause numbness or severe pain on one side of the body.
At a glance
| Spanish | tálamo |
|---|---|
| Also written | thalamic |
Related terms
hypothalamus
A small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.
perception
The brain's way of taking in and making sense of what the senses detect; also a person's own view or understanding of something.
cortex
The outer layer of an organ, especially the folded gray outer layer of the brain.
cerebral
Having to do with the brain, especially the cerebrum, its largest part.