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Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus
LocationOfHypothalamus.jpg
Location of the human hypothalamus
1806 The Hypothalamus-Pituitary Complex.jpg
Location of the hypothalamus, in relation to the pituitary and to the rest of the brain
Details
Identifiers
Latin hypothalamus
MeSH A08.186.211.730.385.357
NeuroNames hier-358
NeuroLex ID Hypothalamus
TA A14.1.08.401
A14.1.08.901
FMA 62008
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
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The hypothalamus (from Greek ὑπό, "under" and θάλαμος, thalamus) is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland (hypophysis).

The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus and is part of the limbic system. In the terminology of neuroanatomy, it forms the ventral part of the diencephalon. All vertebrate brains contain a hypothalamus. In humans, it is the size of an almond.

The hypothalamus is responsible for certain metabolic processes and other activities of the autonomic nervous system. It synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, called releasing hormones or hypothalamic hormones, and these in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, important aspects of parenting and attachment behaviors, thirst,fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms.


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Wikipedia

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