LONI: Laboratory of Neuro Imaging
Home
 
LONI News
LONI > About LONI > Education > LONI Instructional Web

Diencephalon and Basal Ganglia
This is a multiple slice tour of the Diencephalon as seen by T2 weighted MRI's
(adopted from Harvard's whole brain atlas)

On the following sections identify the mamillary bodies, red nucleus, substantia nigra, pineal gland, pituitary gland, sphenoid sinus, infundibulum, suprasellar cistern, cerebral peduncle, hypothalamus, posterior commisure, thalamus and fornix.

Section 1 >> Section 2 >> Section 3 >> Section 4 >> Section 5

Enlarge Image >

PITUITARY ADENOMA
This gross specimen illustrates a circumscribed mass lesion present in the sella turcica. Though pituitary adenomas are benign, they can produce problems either from a mass effect (usually visual problems from pressing on the optic chiasm and/or headaches) or from production of hormones such as prolactin or ACTH.
(from the CNS pathology site)

Enlarge Image > HORIZONTAL MRI
This is a horizontal T2 weighted MRI at the level of the basal ganglia.

Can you identify the structures with the pointers?
(from Harvard's Whole Brain Atlas)

Enlarge Image >		 GROSS CORONAL
Section through the forebrain from a frozen specimen. The section is take at the level where connections can be seen between the head of the caudate and the putamen.
(from the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging)


Enlarge Image >		 FOREBRAIN STRUCTURES
Forebrain structures as seen from surface models. This is a cut-away 3D surface madel of the basal ganglia and adjacent structures.

Can you identify the structures?
(from the Digital Anatomist site)

Enlarge image >		 CORPUS CALLOSUM
The corpus callosum interconects the cerebral cortex. A general trend exists such that more anterior cortex crosses in the more anterior portions of the corpus callosum. As seen from the figure this is quite complex, however the trend still exists. The data presented here is from intraoperative mapping studies indicating the location of cortical fibers decussating in the corpus callosum.

Enlarge Image >		 HUNTINGTONS DISEASE, GROSS
Huntingtons Disease, Gross. Huntingtons disease is a degeneration of specific cells in the head of the caudate. Notice in this gross specimen, coronal cut, that the ventricle appear enlarged due to the mass cell loss in the head of the caudate.
(from CNS Pathology site)

Enlarge Image >		 PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Parkinson's Disease on T2 MRI Last week you learned that a loss of connectivity in the cortex can lead to an increase of iron in the area of loss. This presents on MRI as a dark area (a loss of signal). This was demonstrated by a T2 weighted MRI of a Parkinson's patient's brainstem with signal loss in the substantia nigra and the red nucleus. This is the same patient.

What structure is unusually dark, implying a loss of neuronal connections?

View PET Scan>

A potential treatment for Parkinson's disease is the implantation of fetal substantia nigra tissue into the putamen. This patient has undergone this procedure but only on the right putamen. The image is a PET scan of this patient before implantation and in the following months. Notice the continued loss of function in the left putamen and the recovery of function in the right putamen.
 
IN THIS SECTION:
LONI Copyright Reserved