II. Physiology
- 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
III. 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)
- Supraoptic nucleus
- Posterior Hypothalamus
- Produces and secretes releasing factors for anterior pituitary hormones (ACTH, TSH, GH, LH, FSH)
IV. References
- Goldberg (2014) Clinical Neuroanatomy, Medmaster, p. 54-60
- Netter (1997) Atlas Human Anatomy, ICON Learning, p. 140-1
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Related Studies
| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | The area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst. |
| Definition (NCI_CDISC) | The supervisory center in the brain, rich in ganglia, nerve fibers, and synaptic connections. It is composed of several sections called nuclei, each of which controls a specific function. |
| Definition (NCI) | An important supervisory center in the brain, rich in ganglia, nerve fibers, and synaptic connections. It is composed of several sections called nuclei, each of which controls a specific function. The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, blood pressure, heartbeat, metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, and sugar levels in the blood. Through direct attachment to the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus also meters secretions controlling water balance and milk production in the female. The role of the hypothalamus in awareness of pleasure and pain is well established in the laboratory. It is involved in the expression of emotions, such as fear and rage, and in sexual behaviors. Despite its numerous vital functions, the hypothalamus in humans accounts for only 1/300 of total brain weight, and is about the size of an almond. Structurally, it is joined to the thalamus; the two work together to monitor the sleep-wake cycle. |
| Definition (MSH) | Ventral part of the DIENCEPHALON extending from the region of the OPTIC CHIASM to the caudal border of the MAMMILLARY BODIES and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the THIRD VENTRICLE. |
| Definition (CSP) | ventral part of the diencephalon extending from the region of the optic chiasm to the caudal border of the mammillary bodies and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the third ventricle. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D007031 |
| SnomedCT | 67923007 |
| English | Hypothalamus, Preoptico-hypothalamic region, Preoptico-hypothalamic area, hypothalamic, preoptico-hypothalamic region, Hy, hypothalamus, preoptico-hypothalamic area, HYPOTHALAMUS, BRAIN, HYPOTHALAMUS, Preoptico-Hypothalamic Area, Area, Preoptico-Hypothalamic, Preoptico-Hypothalamic Areas, Preoptico Hypothalamic Area, Areas, Preoptico-Hypothalamic, Hypothalamic structure (body structure), Hypothalamic structure, Hypothalamus, NOS |
| Swedish | Hypotalamus |
| Czech | hypotalamus |
| Finnish | Hypotalamus |
| Russian | GIPOTALAMUS, PODBUGORNAIA OBLAST', GIPOTALAMICHESKAIA OBLAST', PODBUGOR'E, ГИПОТАЛАМИЧЕСКАЯ ОБЛАСТЬ, ГИПОТАЛАМУС, ПОДБУГОРНАЯ ОБЛАСТЬ, ПОДБУГОРЬЕ |
| Croatian | HIPOTALAMUS |
| Latvian | Hipotalāms |
| Polish | Podwzgórze |
| Norwegian | Hypotalamus, Hypothalamus |
| Portuguese | Organum Vasculosum da Lamina Terminalis, Lâmina Terminal, Hipotálamo |
| Spanish | estructura hipotalámica (estructura corporal), estructura hipotalámica, hipotálamo, Hipotálamo |
| French | Hypothalamus |
| German | Hypothalamus |
| Italian | Ipotalamo |
| Dutch | Hypothalamus |
Ontology: Hypothalamus, Anterior (C0020664)
| Definition (MSH) | The front portion of the HYPOTHALAMUS separated into the preoptic region and the supraoptic region. The preoptic region is made up of the periventricular GRAY MATTER of the rostral portion of the THIRD VENTRICLE and contains the preoptic ventricular nucleus and the medial preoptic nucleus. The supraoptic region contains the PARAVENTRICULAR HYPOTHALAMIC NUCLEUS, the SUPRAOPTIC NUCLEUS, the ANTERIOR HYPOTHALAMIC NUCLEUS, and the SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D007032 |
| English | Anterior Hypothalamus, Hypothalamus, Anterior |
| Swedish | Hypotalamus, främre |
| Czech | hypotalamus přední |
| Finnish | Etuhypotalamus |
| Russian | GIPOTALAMUS PEREDNII, GIPOTALAMICHESKAIA OBLAST' SUPRAOPTICHESKAIA, ГИПОТАЛАМИЧЕСКАЯ ОБЛАСТЬ СУПРАОПТИЧЕСКАЯ, ГИПОТАЛАМУС ПЕРЕДНИЙ |
| Polish | Podwzgórze przednie |
| Norwegian | Pars anterior hypothalami, Hypothalamus, Pars anterior, Hypotalamus, fremre |
| French | Hypothalamus antérieur |
| German | Hypothalamus, Pars anterior |
| Italian | Ipotalamo anteriore |
| Dutch | Hypothalamus, Pars anterior |
| Portuguese | Hipotálamo Anterior |
| Spanish | Hipotálamo Anterior |
Ontology: Hypothalamus, Middle (C0020669)
| Definition (MSH) | Middle portion of the hypothalamus containing the arcuate, dorsomedial, ventromedial nuclei, the TUBER CINEREUM and the PITUITARY GLAND. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D007033 |
| English | Hypothalamus, Medial, Hypothalamus, Middle, Medial Hypothalamus, Middle Hypothalamus, Intermediate hypothalamic region, Intermediate hypothalamic area, Hypothalamic Region, Intermediate, Hypothalamic Regions, Intermediate, Intermediate Hypothalamic Region, Intermediate Hypothalamic Regions, Region, Intermediate Hypothalamic, Regions, Intermediate Hypothalamic, intermediate hypothalamic region, IHR, Regio hypothalamica intermedia, Area hypothalamica intermedia |
| French | Hypothalamus médial, Hypothalamus moyen, Hypothalamus médian, Région hypothalamique moyenne |
| Swedish | Hypotalamus, mittre |
| Czech | hypotalamus střední |
| Finnish | Keskihypotalamus |
| Russian | GIPOTALAMUS SREDNII, GIPOTALAMUS MEDIAL'NYI, GIPOTALAMUS VORONKOOBRAZNYI, ГИПОТАЛАМУС ВОРОНКООБРАЗНЫЙ, ГИПОТАЛАМУС МЕДИАЛЬНЫЙ, ГИПОТАЛАМУС СРЕДНИЙ |
| Japanese | 視床下部内側部, 内側部-視床下部 |
| Croatian | Not Translated[Hypothalamus, Middle] |
| Latvian | Not Translated[Hypothalamus, Middle] |
| Polish | Podwzgórze środkowe |
| Norwegian | Hypothalamus, Regio intermedia, Midtre hypotalamus, Hypothalamus, Pars medialis, Hypotalamus, midtre |
| German | Hypothalamus, Pars medialis, Hypothalamus, mittlerer, Hypothalamus, Regio intermedia |
| Italian | Ipotalamo mediano |
| Dutch | Hypothalamus, pars medialis |
| Portuguese | Hipotálamo Médio, Região Hipotalâmica Intermediária |
| Spanish | Hipotalamo Medial, Hipotálamo Medio, Región Hipotalámica Intermedia |
Ontology: Posterior Hypothalamic Region (C0020670)
| Definition (MSH) | The part of the hypothalamus posterior to the middle region consisting of several nuclei including the medial maxillary nucleus, lateral mammillary nucleus, and posterior hypothalamic nucleus (posterior hypothalamic area). The posterior hypothalamic area is concerned with control of sympathetic responses and is sensitive to conditions of decreasing temperature and controls the mechanisms for the conservation and increased production of heat. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D007034 |
| English | Hypothalamus, Posterior, Posterior hypothalamic region, Mammillary level of hypothalamus, Mammillary region, Posterior hypothalamus, Hypothalamic Region, Posterior, Hypothalamic Regions, Posterior, Posterior Hypothalamic Regions, Region, Posterior Hypothalamic, Regions, Posterior Hypothalamic, mammillary region, posterior hypothalamic region, mammillary level of hypothalamus, PHR, posterior hypothalamus, Posterior Hypothalamic Region, Hypothalamus posterior, Regio hypothalamica posterior, Area hypothalamica posterior, Hypothalamica Posterior, Area, Posterior Hypothalamus, Region, Mammillary, Area Hypothalamica Posterior, Posterior, Area Hypothalamica, Hypothalamus Posteriors, Posteriors, Hypothalamus, Mammillary Regions, Area Hypothalamica Posteriors, Posteriors, Area Hypothalamica, Posterior, Hypothalamus, Hypothalamica Posteriors, Area, Mammillary Region, Hypothalamus Posterior, Regions, Mammillary |
| Swedish | Hypotalamus, bakre |
| Czech | hypotalamus zadní |
| Finnish | Takahypotalamus |
| Russian | GIPOTALAMUS ZADNII, ГИПОТАЛАМУС ЗАДНИЙ |
| Italian | Regione posteriore dell'ipotalamo, Ipotalamo posteriore |
| Polish | Podwzgórze tylne |
| Japanese | 後部-視床下部, 視床下部後部 |
| Norwegian | Hypothalamus, Pars posterior, Bakre hypotalamus, Hypotalamus, bakre del |
| French | Hypothalamus postérieur, Région hypothalamique dorsale, Région hypothalamique postérieure |
| German | Hypothalamus, Pars posterior, Hypothalamus, posteriore Region, Posteriore Hypothalamusregion |
| Dutch | Hypothalamus, Pars posterior |
| Portuguese | Hipotálamo Posterior, Região Hipotalâmica Posterior |
| Spanish | Hipotálamo Posterior, Región Hipotalámica Posterior, Región Posterior Hipotalámica |
Ontology: hypothalamus gland (C0885432)
| Definition (ALT) | Hypothalamus gland. |
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| English | hypothalamus gland, gland hypothalamus, glands hypothalamus, Hypothalamus / hypothalamus gland, hypothalamus/hypothalamus gl |
