The hypothalamus is a small region beneath the thalamus, weighing only about 4 grams, that acts as the master controller of the body's internal environment. It regulates temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep, circadian rhythm, stress responses and reproduction, mainly by controlling the pituitary gland and the autonomic nervous system.
| Location | Floor and lower side walls of the third ventricle, below the hypothalamic sulcus, extending from the optic chiasm to the mammillary bodies |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Branches of the circle of Willis (anterior cerebral, anterior and posterior communicating, posterior cerebral arteries); Superior hypophyseal arteries |
Maintains homeostasis by controlling hormone release from the pituitary, autonomic activity, body temperature, appetite, thirst, sleep-wake cycles and basic emotional and reproductive behaviour.
Hypothalamic damage from tumours, surgery, trauma or radiation can cause diabetes insipidus, hypothalamic obesity, temperature instability, sleep disturbance and hypopituitarism. Hypothalamic hamartoma causes gelastic (laughing) seizures and early puberty. Many signs of illness, such as fever, are set by the hypothalamus.
Failure of vasopressin production or release after hypothalamic or stalk damage, causing large volumes of dilute urine and intense thirst.
Rapid, hard-to-control weight gain after damage to the hypothalamic centres that regulate appetite and energy balance, often after craniopharyngioma treatment.
A benign developmental mass of hypothalamic tissue that causes gelastic seizures and sometimes precocious puberty.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
