the hypothalamus is situated in the brain at the paraventricular nucleus.
the hypothalamus is situated in the brain at the paraventricular nucleus.
where is the hypothalamus situated in the brain?
paraventricular nucleus
the hypothalamus 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. 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 the regulation of 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 hormones from the pituitary gland. the hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, important aspects of parenting and attachment behaviours, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms. the hypothalamus derives its name from greek ὑπό, "under" and θάλαμος, "chamber".
hypothalamus
the lateral hypothalamus contains orexinergic neurons that control appetite and arousal through their projections to the ascending reticular activating system. the hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland through the release of peptides such as oxytocin, and vasopressin, as well as dopamine into the median eminence. through the autonomic projections, the hypothalamus is involved in regulating functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, sweating, and other homeostatic mechanisms. the hypothalamus also plays a role in thermal regulation, and when stimulated by the immune system, is capable of generating a fever. the hypothalamus is influenced by the kidneys – when blood pressure falls, the renin released by the kidneys stimulates a need to drink. the hypothalamus also regulates food intake through autonomic signals, and hormone release by the digestive system.
human brain