Anatomy
hypothalamus
hy·po·thal·a·mus [ hahy-puh-thal-uh-muhs ]
Subclass of:
Limbic System;
Diencephalon
Etymology:
Greek hypo = under + thalamos = an inner chamber
Definitions related to hypothalamic:
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(hypothalamus) A small region of the brain composed of multiple nuclei and located underneath the thalamus.CDISC TerminologyClinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), 2021
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(hypothalamus) A small area in the brain that produces hormones that control body temperature, hunger, moods, the stress response, and other key functions.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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(hypothalamus) 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.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(hypothalamus) Organ component of neuraxis, each instance of which is the ventral part of some diencephalon, forming the floor and part of the lateral wall of some third ventricle. Anatomically, it includes some preoptic area, optic tract, optic chiasm, mammillary bodies, tuber cinereum, infundibulum, and neurohypophysis, but for physiological purposes the neurohypophysis is considered a distinct structure.Foundational Model of AnatomyUniversity of Washington, 2017
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(hypothalamus) The area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(hypothalamus) 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.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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The hypothalamus is a region of the brain composed of many small nuclei with diverse functions. Located above the midbrain and below the thalamus, the hypothalamus makes up the ventral diencephalon.WebMD, 2019
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Hypothalamus, region of the brain lying below the thalamus and making up the floor of the third cerebral ventricle. The hypothalamus is an integral part of the brain. It is a small cone-shaped structure that projects downward from the brain, ending in the pituitary (infundibular) stalk, a tubular...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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