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Hypothalamus
Aka: Hypothalamus, Hypothalamus Gland, Anterior Hypothalamus, Medial Hypothalamus, Posterior Hypothalamus, Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus
- See Also
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Pituitary Gland
- Definitions
- Thalamus
- Master control of the Autonomic System (analogous to a thermostat)
- Coordinates complex, related reflexive actions (e.g. fight or flight, Body Temperature, increased appetite)
- Physiology
- Images

- Master control of the Autonomic System (analogous to a thermostat)
- Coordinates complex, related reflexive actions
- Fight or flight response (Sympathetic Nervous System)
- Increased appetite (Parasympathetic Nervous System)
- Body Temperature Regulation
- Anatomy
- Small organ in the Diencephalon
- Anterior Hypothalamus
- Supraoptic nucleus
- Neurons project into the posterior pituitary where they release Vasopressin (Antidiuretic Hormone, ADH)
- Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus
- Neurons project into the posterior pituitary where they release Oxytocin or Vasopressin (ADH)
- Posterior Hypothalamus
- Produces and secretes releasing factors for anterior pituitary Hormones (ACTH, TSH, GH, LH, FSH)
- Physiology: Hypothalamus and Pituitary Hormones
- Hypothalamus
- Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH, CRF)
- Stimulates anterior pituitary release of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
- Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH, LHRH)
- Stimulates anterior pituitary release of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Stimulates anterior pituitary release of Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH)
- Stimulates anterior pituitary release of Growth Hormone
- Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone (TRH, TRF)
- Stimulates anterior pituitary release of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Stimulates anterior pituitary release of Prolactin
- Somatostatin
- Inhibits anterior pituitary release of Growth Hormone
- Inhibits anterior pituitary release of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Neurotransmitters
- Dopamine released from Hypothalamus inhibits anterior pituitary release of Prolactin
- Posterior Pituitary Gland (Hormones produced in the Hypothalamus, released from pituitary)
- Oxytocin
- Stimulates uterine contractions
- Stimulates milk let-down in Lactation
- Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH, Vasopressin)
- Increases renal water reaborption
- Anterior Pituitary Gland
- Prolactin
- Protein synthesized and secreted by Lactotrophs (acidophil cells) in the anterior pituitary
- Prolactin stimulates milk secretion into the Breast alveoli in pregnancy and Lactation
- Oxytocin stimulates myoepithelial cells to contract, expressing Breast Milk from the nipple
- Stimulated by Estrogen, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH)
- Inhibition by hypothalamic Dopamine (Prolactin Inhibiting Factor or PIF)
- Human Growth Hormone
- Polypeptide produced in the acidophil cells of the anterior pituitary
- Triggered by Hypoglycemia (or low amino acids) via hypothalamic release of GHRH
- Promotes bone and cartilage growth, protein synthesis, glycogen storage, Fatty Acid increase
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
- Polypeptide synthesized and secreted by Basophil cells in the anterior pituitary
- Stimulation (releasing factors) include Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) and stress
- Inhibition by negative feedback loops (Cortisol inhibits CRH and ACTH release)
- ACTH stimulates the Adrenal Cortex to release Cortisol (and to a lesser extent Aldosterone and androgens)
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- See Thyroid Physiology
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is a glycoprotein synthesized in the Basophil cells of the anterior pituitary
- Stimulated by Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH)
- Inhibited by negative feedback from Thyroid Hormones (T4, T3)
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) promotes all aspects of Thyroid Hormone production
- Increases iodide uptake and incorporation of Iodine into Thyroglobulin
- Increases lysis into active Thyroid Hormones T4 and T3
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- FSH is a glyoprotein secreted by Basophil cells in the anterior Pituitary Gland
- Stimulation (releasing factors) is by Hypothalamic Gonadotrophic Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
- Inhibited via negative feedback loop by Testosterone, Estrogens, Progesterone and inhibin
- FSH stimulates ovarian follicle growth (which secretes Estradiol) in women
- FSH stimulates spermatogenesis and sperm maturation within Sertoli Cells in men
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- LH is a glycoprotein secreted by Basophil cells in the anterior Pituitary Gland
- Stimulation is by Hypothalamic Gonadotrophic Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
- Inhibited via negative feedback loop by Testosterone, Estrogens, Progesterone and inhibin
- LH stimulates ovarian follicles to ovulate and mature into a corpus luteum (produces Estrogen, Progesterone)
- LH stimulates Leydig Cells within Testes to produce Testosterone
- References
- Goldberg (2014) Clinical Neuroanatomy, Medmaster, p. 54-60
- Netter (1997) Atlas Human Anatomy, ICON Learning, p. 140-1