for Students of Allied Health sciences

1. Hypothalamus
By Muhammad Zeeshan
Assistant director QEC,
Lecturer & coordinator MLT
Gulrang Nursing college and
Institute of Allied health sciences

2. Hypothalamus
• The hypothalamus is made of 3 regions that
perform vital functions like hormone release,
appetite control, and body temperature
regulation. You can keep your hypothalamus
healthy with diet, exercise, and sleep.
• The hypothalamus is a structure deep within
your brain . It’s the main link between
your endocrine system and your nervous system.
Your hypothalamus keeps your body balanced in
a stable state called homeostasis.
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3. • hypothalamus helps manage your:
• Body temperature.
• Blood pressure.
• Hunger and thirst.
• Sense of fullness when eating.
• Mood.
• Sex drive.
• Sleep.
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5. What is the function of the
hypothalamus?
• The hypothalamus has three main regions. Each one
contains different nuclei. Nuclei are clusters
of neurons that perform vital functions.
• Anterior region
• The anterior region is also called the supraoptic region.
Its major nuclei include the supraoptic nucleus and
paraventricular nucleus. There are several other smaller
nuclei in the anterior region as well.
• The nuclei in the anterior region are largely involved in
the secretion of various hormones. Many of these
hormones interact with the nearby pituitary gland to
produce additional hormones.
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6. • The anterior region of the hypothalamus also
helps regulate body temperature through sweat.
• It also maintains circadian rhythms, which are
physical and behavioral changes that occur on a
daily cycle.
• Middle region
• The middle region is also called the tuberal
region. Its major nuclei are the arcuate nucleus
and ventromedial nucleus. Part of the
paraventricular nucleus is also located here.
• The arcuate nucleus is involved in appetite and
releasing growth hormone-releasing hormone
(GHRH). The ventromedial nucleus also helps
regulate appetite and growth.
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7. Posterior region
• The posterior region is also called the
mammillary region. The posterior hypothalamic
nucleus and mammillary nucleus are its main
nuclei.
• The posterior hypothalamic nucleus helps
regulate body temperature by
causing shivering and blocking sweat
production.
• The mammillary nucleus is involved in memory
function
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8. Hypothalamus Nuclei
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9. What are the hormones of the
hypothalamus?
• Some of the most important hormones produced in the
anterior region of the hypothalamus include:
• Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is
involved in the body’s response to both physical and
emotional stress. It signals the pituitary gland to produce
a hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
ACTH triggers the production of cortisol, an important
stress hormone.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
(GnRH). Production of GnRH causes the pituitary
gland to produce important reproductive hormones,
such as follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
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10. • Thyrotropin-releasing hormone
(TRH). Production of TRH stimulates the pituitary
gland to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
TSH plays an important role in the function of many
body parts, such as the muscles, heart, and
gastrointestinal tract.
• Somatostatin. Somatostatin works to stop the pituitary
gland from releasing certain hormones, including growth
hormones and TSH.
• Oxytocin. This hormone controls many important
behaviors and emotions, such as sexual arousal, trust,
recognition, and maternal behavior. It’s also involved in
some functions of the reproductive system, such as
childbirth and lactation. Learn more about oxytocin.
• Vasopressin. Also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH),
vasopressin regulates water levels in the body. When
vasopressin is released, it signals the kidneys to absorb
water.
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11. Other roles of the hypothalamus
• Dopamine. Dopamine is the “feel-good” hormone.
It gives you a sense of pleasure. It gives you the
motivation to do something when you are feeling
pleasure. Dopamine signals the pituitary to stop
releasing prolactin.
• Somatostatin. This hormone prevents the
secretion of several other hormones, including
growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone,
cholecystokinin and insulin. In turn, all of these
hormones control the production of somatostatin.
• Your hypothalamus also corrects any imbalances in
body temperature, stress and your daily bodily
rhythms.
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12. How does the hypothalamus interact
with the pituitary gland?
• Your pituitary gland sits just below your
hypothalamus. It consists of two lobes, called
the anterior pituitary and posterior pituitary. Your
hypothalamus is connected to and communicates
with your anterior lobe through a network of blood
vessels. It communicates with your posterior lobe by
tissue called the pituitary stalk.
• Your hypothalamus sends signals in the form of
releasing hormones to tell the anterior and posterior
pituitary when to release (secrete) its hormones.
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13. Pituitary Gland
• Pituitary gland (also known as hypophysis) is a
small, pea-sized gland located at the base of your
brain below your hypothalamus. It sits in its own
little chamber under your brain known as the
sella turcica (saddle-shaped depression in the
body of the sphenoid bone).
• It’s a part of your endocrine system and is in
charge of making several essential hormones.
Your pituitary gland also tells other endocrine
system glands to release hormones.
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14. • Your pituitary gland is divided into two main
sections: the anterior pituitary (front lobe) and
the posterior pituitary (back lobe). Your
pituitary is connected to your hypothalamus
through a stalk of blood vessels and nerves
called the pituitary stalk (also known as
infundibulum).
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16. Gland
• A gland is an organ that makes one or more
substances, such as hormones, digestive juices,
sweat or tears. Endocrine glands release
hormones directly into your bloodstream.
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17. Anterior lobe
• Anterior lobe of your pituitary gland makes and
releases the following hormones:
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH or
corticotrophin):
• ACTH plays a role in how your body responds to
stress. It stimulates your adrenal glands to
produce cortisol (the “stress hormone”), which has
many functions, including regulating metabolism,
maintaining blood pressure, regulating blood
glucose (blood sugar) levels and
reducing inflammation, among others.
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18. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH):
• FSH stimulates sperm production in people
assigned male at birth. FSH stimulates the
ovaries to produce estrogen and plays a role in
egg development in people assigned female at
birth. This is known as a gonadotrophic
hormone.
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19. Growth hormone (GH):
• In children, growth hormone stimulates growth.
In other words, it helps children grow taller. In
adults, growth hormone helps maintain healthy
muscles and bones and impacts fat distribution.
GH also impacts your metabolism (how your
body turns the food you eat into energy).
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20. Luteinizing hormone (LH):
• LH stimulates ovulation in people assigned
female at birth and testosterone production in
people assigned male at birth. LH is also known
as a gonadotrophic hormone because of the role
it plays in controlling the function of the ovaries
and testes, known as the gonads.
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21. Prolactin:
• Prolactin stimulates breast milk production
(lactation) after giving birth. It can affect fertility
and sexual functions in adults.
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22. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH):
• TSH stimulates your thyroid to produce thyroid
hormones that manage your metabolism, energy
levels and your nervous system.
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23. Anterior pituitary
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24. Posterior pituitary
• hypothalamus makes two hormones but stores them
in the posterior pituitary. When these hormones are
needed, your hypothalamus sends a signal to the
posterior pituitary to release them into the
bloodstream. These two hormones are:
• Oxytocin: This hormone assists in the birthing
process (stimulates uterine muscle contraction) and
in lactation (release of breast milk). It’s also thought
to play a role in human bonding, sexual arousal,
trust, recognition, sleep cycle and feelings of well-
being.
• Vasopressin: This hormone, also called
antidiuretic hormone (ADH), regulates control of
your body’s water/urine volume and blood pressure.
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