The prominent gyrus below it, the cingulate gyrus, along with the cortex adjacent to it, is known as the limbic lobe. Limbic system is concerned with emotions, feelings, etc. Fig 1.10 C shows an enlarged view of the diencephalon. The dorsal thalamus, the largest component of the diencephalon, is involved in relaying information to the cerebral cortex from other parts of the brain. The pituitary gland is the master endocrine gland.
Optic chiasm is formed by crossing of the optic nerves from the eyes.
1.11 shows the midbrain. It lies caudal to the diencephalon, contains two large fiber bundles, the cerebral peduncles, which contain the axons traveling between the cortex and spinal cord. The pons, the part of the brain stem, lies caudal to the midbrain. The axons of the pontine neurons extend to the cerebellum via the middle cerebellar peduncles. Caudal to the pons is the medulla, which contain two longitudinal prominences near the midline, the medullary pyramids.