The thalamus consists of nuclear groups which may themselves be subdivided into various individual nuclei. Advanced macro- and microscopic techniques enabled the identification of further thalamic subdivisions, which explains the coexistence of several classifications listing diverse thalamic nuclei.
Here we describe some of the most commonly acknowledged nuclear groups and nuclei. Their location on the sections and diagrams are extrapolated from the referenced sources.
Two laminas of white matter run through the thalamus: