# What is the thalamus?

It is called the thalamus. Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a pair of egg-shaped masses of gray matter deep within the cerebrum.

## What it means

- A pair of egg-shaped masses of gray matter deep within the cerebrum.
- Acts as a relay station for most sensory information on its way to the cerebral cortex.
- Also plays a role in alertness and consciousness.

## Action steps

1. On each side of the third ventricle.
2. Deep in the center of the brain.
3. Just above the hypothalamus.

## Sources

- [Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body (1918)](https://www.bartleby.com/107/)

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