The Hypothalamus

Medical Neuroscience
Dr. Wiegand
 Neural
NeuralInfluences
Influences HormonalInfluences
Hormonal Influences

The
The Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
Autonomic
Autonomic Endocrine
Endocrine
Nervous
Nervous System
Limbic
Limbic System
System
System System
System
Functions of the
Hypothalamus
 Autonomic nervous system regulation
 Hormone production
 Endocrine regulation
 Circadian rhythm regulation
 Limbic system interaction
 Various
 Temperature regulation
 Feeding
The Diencephalon
 The Diencephalon

nix
r
fo
thalamus
thalamus
Epithalamus
Epithalamus
hypothalamus
hypothalamus (Pineal
(Pineal&
&
Optic Habenula)
Habenula)
Opticchiasm
chiasm
pituitary Mammillary
pituitary subthalamus
subthalamus
body
Pituitary
Divisions of the
Hypothalamus

3rd ventricle
Divisions of the
Hypothalamus

periventricular
medial
lateral
Divisions of the
Hypothalamus
Divisions of the
Hypothalamus
 Tuberoinfundibular tract

Hypothalamic-
Hypophysial
Portal System
Hypothalamohypophysial tract
Functions of the
Hypothalamus
 Autonomic nervous  Anterior area
system regulation influences PSNS
 Hormone production through projections
 Endocrine regulation to brainstem PSNS
 Circadian rhythm nuclei
regulation
 Limbic system
 Posterior area
interaction influences SNS
 Various through projections
 Temperature to the lateral gray
regulation horn
 Feeding
Functions of the
Hypothalamus
 Autonomic nervous  Magnocellular regions of
system regulation the supraoptic and
 Hormone production paraventricular nuclei
 Endocrine regulation produce oxytocin and
 Circadian rhythm vassopressin (ADH)
regulation  Transported via axonal
 Limbic system transport systems
interaction (hypothalamohypophysial
 Various tract) to neurohypophysis
 Temperature  Released in circulation
regulation  Damage to supraoptic n. 
 Feeding diabetes insipidus
Functions of the
Hypothalamus
 Autonomic nervous  Stimulating or inhibiting
system regulation
hormones are
 Hormone production
 Endocrine regulation transported via the
 Circadian rhythm tuberoinfundibular tract
regulation and released in to the
 Limbic system pituitary portal system
interaction
and ultimately to the
 Various
adenohypophysis
 Temperature
regulation
 Feeding
Functions of the
Hypothalamus
 Autonomic nervous  Input from retina to
system regulation
suprachiasmatic
 Hormone production
 Endocrine regulation nucleus is then
 Circadian rhythm sent through poorly
regulation defined projections
 Limbic system to the pineal gland
interaction
 Various
 Temperature
regulation
 Feeding
Functions of the
Hypothalamus
 Autonomic nervous
system regulation
 Temperature
 Hormone production  Posterior n. conserves
heat
 Endocrine regulation
 Anterior n. dissipates heat
 Circadian rhythm
regulation  Fever starts – sweating
 Limbic system  Fever ends – chills
interaction  Feeding
 Various  Lateral n. induces eating
 Temperature  Ventromedial n. inhibits
regulation eating
 Feeding
Limbic System (Visceral
Brain)
Mediates complex behaviors
 Preservation of species
• securing food, defense mechanisms,
sexual behavior
 Emotions
 Affective behavior
 Memory
 Motivation
 Components
 Cingulate gyrus
 Parahippocampal
gyrus
 Mammillary body
 Hippocampus
 Anterior thalamic
nucleus
 Amygdala
 Septal nuclei
 Dorsomedial
thalamic nucleus
 Circuit of Papez

CingulateGyrus
Cingulate Gyrus
Thalamocingulate
radiations cingulum

Ant. Thalamic
Ant. Thalamic
fornix Nucleus
Nucleus

Mammillary Hippocampus
Hippocampus
Mammillary
Body
Body Mammillothalamic tract
Fornix
 Amygdala

 Located deep to uncus,

near tail of caudate, and
above most rostral part of
lateral ventricle inferior
horn
 Wide variety of functions,
connections
 lip smacking, chewing,
Placidity
autonomic responses,
fear, rage, anxiety Visual agnosia
 Klüver-Bucy Syndrome Oral tendencies
Hypersexuality