The hypothalamus is a small, central region of the human brain formed by nervous fibers and a conglomerate of nuclear bodies with various functions. The hypothalamus is considered to be a link structure between the nervous and the endocrine system, its main function being to maintain the homeostasis of the body. In this slide able to learn about HYPOTHALAMUS its structure, function, secretions and syndromes

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WHAT IS HYPOTHALAMUS?
• The word “Hypo” means “below "and “thalamus” means “chamber or room”
• Very small part of the brain weighing about 4gms
• 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
• Hypothalamus is a small but important part of the brain.
• It plays an important role in the nervous system as well as in the endocrine
system.
• It is link to another small and vital gland called the pituitary gland.
• The hypothalamus is the linked between the endocrine & the nervous system.

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Animation of hypothalamus and 3rd ventricle
Human hypothalamus
(shown in red)
3rd_ventricle_
(Shown in red)

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LOCATION AND STRUCTURE
• Present in the posterior part of the forebrain
• Connects the midbrain with the cerebral hemisphere
• And encloses the third ventricle
• A small cone-shaped structure, it projects downward, ending in the pituitary stalk, a
tubular connection to the pituitary gland.

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It is located in the
middle of the base of
the brain, and
encapsulates the
ventral portion of the
third ventricle.
One of the most
important functions of
the hypothalamus is
to link the nervous
system to
the endocrine system
via the pituitary gland

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FUNCTIONS
 It synthesizes and secretes certain
neurohormones, often called hypothalamic-
releasing hormones, and these in turn stimulate or
inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones.
• Concerned mainly with homeostasis of the body
• It regulates many vital functions of the body like
endocrine functions, visceral functions, metabolic
activities, hunger, thirst, sleep, wakefulness,
emotion, sexual functions, etc

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Action

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CONTROL OF ANTERIOR PITUITARY
Hypothalamus
Releasing Hormones (5) And Inhibitory Hormones
(2)
seven hormones

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SECRETION OF POSTERIOR PITUITARY HORMONES
Hypothalamus
Posterior pituitary
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) + oxytocin
Transported by means of axonic or axoplasmic flow
Through the fibers of hypothalamo-hypophyseal tracts

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Hypothalamus Releasing Hormones
• Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH)
• Growth Hormone Releasing Polypeptide (GHRP)
• Thyrotropic Releasing Hormone (TRH)
• Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH)
• Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GRH)
• Growth Hormone Inhibitory Hormone (GHIH) /
Somatostatin
• Prolactin Inhibitory Hormone (PIH)

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Function of these Hormones
• Antidiuretic hormone, which increases how much water is absorbed
into the blood by the kidneys
• Corticotropin-releasing hormone, which helps regulate metabolism
and immune response by working with the pituitary gland and adrenal
gland to release certain steroids
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which instructs the pituitary gland
to release more hormones that keep the sexual organs working
• Oxytocin hormone involved in several processes, including the
release of a mother’s breast milk, moderating body temperature, and
regulating sleep cycles
• prolactin-controlling hormones, which tell the pituitary gland to
either start or stop breast milk production in lactating mothers
• Thyrotropic-releasing hormone activates the thyroid, which releases
the hormones that regulate metabolism, energy levels, and
developmental growth

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Hypothalamus hormones with their location and
action

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Effect on Growth
• The hypothalamus also directly influences growth
hormones. It commands the pituitary gland to either
increase or decrease their presence in the body, which
is essential for both growing children and fully
developed adults
• REGULATION OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Hypothalamus controls the ANS
• The sympathetic division regulated by posterior and
lateral nuclei
• The parasympathetic division controlled by anterior
group of nuclei

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. REGULATION OF AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Hypothalamus controls the ANS
• The sympathetic division regulated by posterior
and lateral nuclei
• The parasympathetic division controlled by
anterior group of nuclei

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Disorders of hypothalamus secretary hormones
• KALLMANN’S SYNDROME
• its a genetic disorder characterized by
hypogonadism
• It is also called hypogonadotrropic hypogonadism
since it occurs due to deficiency of Gonadotropin
releasing hormones secreted by hypothalamus
• Disorders of the hypothalamus and/or anterior
pituitary can also result in hypopituitarism,
including adrenal insufficiency ,hypothyroidism,
hypogonadism growth hormone deficiency and
prolactin deficiency (inability to lactate).

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