The hypothalamus is a small structure located at the base of the brain that connects the nervous system to the endocrine system. It produces neurohormones that stimulate or inhibit the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland. Some key neurohormones produced by the hypothalamus include thyrotrophin-releasing hormone, corticotrophin-releasing hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, growth hormone-releasing hormone, and antidiuretic hormone. These neurohormones help regulate important bodily functions.

1. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
HYPOTHALAMUS

2. HUMAN ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

3. WHAT IS HYPOTHALAMUS?
• The portion of the brain that contains a
number of small nuclei with a variety of
functions.
• The control center of all autonomic
regulatory activities of the body.

6. LOCATION AND STRUCTURE
• It is located in the middle of the base of the brain,
and encapsulates the ventral portion of the third
ventricle.
• A small cone-shaped structure, it projects
downward, ending in the pituitary stalk, a tubular
connection to the pituitary gland.

8. FUNCTION
• The most important functions of the
hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to
the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
• It synthesizes and secretes
certain neurohormones, often called
hypothalamic-releasing hormones, and these
in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of
pituitary hormones.

10. ACTION
PITUITARY
GLAND

11. NEUROHORMONES
• Thyrotrophin- releasing hormone (TRH)
• Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
• Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
• Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone
• Prolactin-inhibiting hormone
• Oxytocin
• Vasopressin

13. NEUROHORMONES
• Hormone ~ Thyrotrophin-releasing
hormone
• Other names ~ Prolactin-releasing hormone
• Symbol(s)~ TRH/TRF/ or PRH
• stimulate thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
release from anterior pituitary hormone
(primarily).
• Stimulate prolactin (PRL) release from
anterior pituitary.

14. NEUROHORMONES
• Hormone~ Corticotrophin-releasing
hormone
• Symbols (s) ~ CRH/CRF
• Stimulate adrenocorticotrophic hormones
(ACTH) release from anterior pituitary.

15. NEUROHORMONES
• Hormone~ Gonadotropin-releasing
hormone
• Symbols (s) ~ GnRH/ LHRH
• Stimulating follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH) release from anterior pituitary.
• Stimulate luteinizing hormone (LH) release
from anterior pituitary.

16. NEUROHORMONES
• Hormone~ Growth hormone-releasing
hormone.
• Symbol (s)~GHRH
• Stimulate Growth hormone (GH) release
from anterior pituitary.

17. NEUROHORMONES
• Hormone~ Somatostatin
• Other names~ growth hormone-
inhibiting hormone
• Symbols (s)~ SS/GHIH
• Inhibit the Growth hormone (GH) release
from anterior pituitary
• Inhibit thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
release from anterior pituitary.

18. NEUROHORMONES
• Hormone~ Dopamine
• Other names~ Prolactin-inhibiting
hormone
• Symbols (s)~ DA/PIH
• Inhibit prolactin release from anterior
pituitary.
• Responsible for sexual arousal

19. NEUROHORMONES
• Hormone~ Oxytocin
• For uterine contraction.
• Lactation (letdown reflex or milk ejection
reflex)

20. NEUROHORMONES
• Hormone~ Vasopressin
• Other names ~ antidiuretics hormone
• Symbols (s)~ ADH/AVP
• Increased water permeability in the distal
convoluted tubule and collecting duct of
nephrons, thus promoting water reabsorption
and increasing blood volume