Hypothalamus: [TA] The ventral and medial regions of the diencephalon forming the walls of approximately the ventral half of the third ventricle; it is delineated from the thalamus by the hypothalamic sulcus, lying medial to the internal capsule and subthalamus, continuous with the precommissural septum anteriorly and with the mesencephalic tegmentum and central gray substance posteriorly. Its ventral surface is marked by (from rostral to caudal) the optic chiasma, the unpaired infundibulum that extends by way of the infundibular stalk into the posterior lobe of the hypophysis, and the paired mammillary bodies. The hypothalamus consists of the anterior hypothalamic area [TA], dorsal hypothalamic area [TA], intermediate hypothalamic area [TA], lateral hypothalamic area [TA], and posterior hypothalamic area [TA], each of these containing specific nuclei. It has afferent fiber connections with the mesencephalon, limbic system, cerebellum, and efferent fiber connections with the same structures and with the posterior lobe of the hypophysis; its functional connection with the anterior lobe of the hypophysis is established by the hypothalamohypophysial portal system. The hypothalamus is prominently involved in the functions of the autonomic (visceral motor) nervous system and, through its vascular link with the anterior lobe of the hypophysis, in endocrine mechanisms; it also appears to play a role in neural mechanisms underlying moods and motivational states.pituitary gland. [hypo- + thalamus]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Hypothalamus: The area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst.
Source: National Institute of Health
Hypothalamus: a basal part of the diencephalon governing autonomic nervous system.
Source: WordNet 2.1
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.
Source: CRISP
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.
Source: MESH OBO (Open Biomedical Ontologies)
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.
Source: MeSH 2007
Hypothalamus (organ): The hypothalamus is a small area of the brain, located near the thalamus and pituitary gland. The hypothalamus has many functions including the production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin, integrating the autonomic nervous system, and regulation of such functions as body temperature, hormone secretion, growth, sleep cycles, mood, alertness, and the feelings of hunger and satiety.
Conditions that can afflict the hypothalamus include hypothalamus dysfunction, malnutrition, radiation exposure, genetic disorders, tumors, trauma, birth defects, and infection.
Hypothalamus (organ): See Hypothalamus (organ information).
More information on organs: Hypothalamus:
Source - MeSH 2007
Source - MeSH 2007
Source - CRISP
Source - MeSH 2007
Source - CRISP
Source - WordNet 2.1
Source: CRISP
Source: CRISP
The following list attempts to classify Hypothalamus into categories where each line is subset of the next.
Source: WordNet 2.1
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