Interthalamic adhesion

Interthalamic adhesion
Dissection showing the ventricles of the brain. (Interthalamic adhesion labeled as Massa Intermedia at center right.)
Coronal section of brain through intermediate mass of third ventricle.
Details
Part of thalamus
Identifiers
Latin Adhaesio interthalamica
NeuroNames 301
NeuroLex ID nlx_144100
TA A14.1.08.103
FMA 74869
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The interthalamic adhesion (also known as the intermediate mass or middle commissure) is a flattened band of tissue that connects both parts of the thalamus at their medial surfaces. The medial surfaces form the upper part of the lateral wall to the third ventricle.

In mammals other than humans, it is a large structure. In humans it is only about one centimeter long, though In females it is larger by about 50%.[1] Sometimes it is in two parts and 20% to 30% of the time it is absent.

In 1889, a Portuguese anatomist by the name of Macedo examined 215 brains, showing that male humans are approximately twice as likely to lack an interthalamic adhesion as are female humans. He anecdotally attributed the finding to a "prevailing feature of people deprived of [the interthalamic adhesion] is to present in their psychical acts a remarkable precipitation, joined to a certain dysharmony between internal and external feelings".[2] Its absence is seen to be inconsequential.

The interthalamic adhesion contains nerve cells and nerve fibers; a few of the latter may cross the middle line, but most of them pass toward the middle line and then curve laterally on the same side. It is still uncertain whether the interthalamic adhesion contains fibers that cross the mid-line and for this reason it is inappropriate to call it a commissure.

The interthalamic adhesion is notably enlarged in patients with the type II Arnold-Chiari malformation.[3]

Additional images

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ↑ http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/109691976/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
  2. ↑ REGIS OLRY AND DUANE E. HAINES, "Interthalamic Adhesion: Scruples About Calling a Spade a Spade?" Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 14:116-118, 2005
  3. ↑ Wolpert, S. M.; Anderson, M; Scott, R. M.; Kwan, E. S.; Runge, V. M. (1987). "Chiari II malformation: MR imaging evaluation". American Journal of Roentgenology. 149 (5): 1033–42. doi:10.2214/ajr.149.5.1033. PMID 3499774.
  • Atlas image: n1a8p6 at the University of Michigan Health System
  • Image at Harvard University
  • Diagram at csuchico.edu (labeled as Massa intermedia)
  • "Anatomy diagram: 13048.000-3". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01.
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