Nervous system 3: the central and peripheral nervous system II

  • Bayram-Weston, Zubeyde
  • Andrade-Sienz, Maria
  • Knight, John

  • Authors Zubeyde Bayram-Weston is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a senior lecturer in biomedical science; Maria Andrade-Sienz is honorary associate professor in biomedical science; John Knight is associate professor in biomedical science. All are at the College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University.

Nursing Times 118(5):p 38-42, May 2022.

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

In this article…

  • The constituent parts of the diencephalon and their roles

  • How the cerebellum helps control movement, posture and balance

  • Summary of the functions and dysfunctions of the limbic system

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Key points

The thalamus, hypothalamus and epithalamus make up the diencephalon

The thalamus primarily acts as a relay station for sensory information

All parts of the brain stem function as two-way conduction paths

The limbic system plays a key role in basic survival instincts including thirst, hunger and the drive to reproduce

Abstract This article, the third in a series on the nervous system, continues the exploration of the central nervous system, examining the structure and function of the diencephalon, brain stem and cerebellum before concluding with an overview of the spinal cord.

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