hypothalamus

American  

[hahy-puh-thal-uh-muhs] / ˌhaɪ pəˈθæl ə məs /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

hypothalami

1. a region of the brain, between the thalamus and the midbrain, that functions as the main control center for the autonomic nervous system by regulating sleep cycles, body temperature, appetite, etc., and that acts as an endocrine gland by producing hormones, including the releasing factors that control the hormonal secretions of the pituitary gland.

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hypothalamus British  

/ ˌhaɪpəθəˈlæmɪk, ˌhaɪpəˈθæləməs /

noun

1. a neural control centre at the base of the brain, concerned with hunger, thirst, satiety, and other autonomic functions

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hypothalamus Scientific  

/ hī′pō-thăl′ə-məs /

1. The part of the brain in vertebrate animals that lies below the thalamus and cerebrum. The hypothalamus controls the autonomic nervous system and the secretion of hormones by the pituitary gland. Through these nerve and hormone channels, the hypothalamus regulates many vital biological processes, including body temperature, blood pressure, thirst, hunger, and the sleep-wake cycle.

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hypothalamus Cultural  

1. The part of the brain that controls hunger, thirst, and body temperature and regulates various activities in the body connected with metabolism, including the maintaining of water balance. The hypothalamus also controls the action of the pituitary gland.

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Other Word Forms

• hypothalamic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hypothalamus

From New Latin, dating back to 1895–1900; hypo-, thalamus

Compare meaning

How does hypothalamus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hypothalamus vs. thalamus

Example Sentences

The system behind this process is buried deep in the hypothalamus, an ancient part of the brain shared by all mammals.

From Science Daily

Closer examination of the hypothalamus revealed that certain neurons were stuck in a state of constant activity but produced weak signals.

From Science Daily

In mid-aged mice, weight loss led to increased inflammation in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain involved in regulating appetite, energy use, and other essential functions.

From Science Daily

To better understand which brain cells respond to FGF19, the authors compiled and examined public scRNA-seq data from several studies of the hypothalamus.

From Science Daily

It starts in the hypothalamus, a small structure in the centre of the brain that senses the nutritional state of the body.

From BBC