thalamus

Part of the diencephalon; either of two large ovoid structures composed of gray matter and situated at the base of the cerebrum. It functions as a relay station in which sensory pathways of the spinal cord and brainstem form synapses on their way to the cerebral cortex.

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Related Words

brainstem ; cerebral cortex ; cerebrum ; diencephalon ; gray matter ; spinal cord ; synapse