The Hypothalamus

Medical Neuroscience Dr. Wiegand

Neural Influences Neural Influences

Hormonal Influences Hormonal Influences

The Hypothalamus
Autonomic Autonomic Nervous Nervous System System Limbic Limbic System System Endocrine Endocrine 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

thalamus thalamus hypothalamus hypothalamus Optic chiasm Optic chiasm pituitary pituitary

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Epithalamus Epithalamus (Pineal & (Pineal & Habenula) Habenula) Mammillary 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

HypothalamicHypophysial Portal System

Hypothalamohypophysial tract

Functions of the Hypothalamus

Autonomic nervous system regulation Hormone production Endocrine regulation Circadian rhythm regulation Limbic system interaction Various

Temperature regulation Feeding

Anterior area influences PSNS through projections to brainstem PSNS nuclei Posterior area influences SNS through projections to the lateral gray horn

Functions of the Hypothalamus

Autonomic nervous system regulation Hormone production Endocrine regulation Circadian rhythm regulation Limbic system interaction Various Magnocellular regions of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei produce oxytocin and vassopressin (ADH) Transported via axonal transport systems (hypothalamohypophysial tract) to neurohypophysis Released in circulation Damage to supraoptic n. diabetes insipidus

Temperature regulation Feeding

Functions of the Hypothalamus

Autonomic nervous system regulation Hormone production Endocrine regulation Circadian rhythm regulation Limbic system interaction Various

Temperature regulation Feeding

Stimulating or inhibiting hormones are transported via the tuberoinfundibular tract and released in to the pituitary portal system and ultimately to the adenohypophysis

Functions of the Hypothalamus

Autonomic nervous system regulation Hormone production Endocrine regulation Circadian rhythm regulation Limbic system interaction Various

Input from retina to suprachiasmatic nucleus is then sent through poorly defined projections to the pineal gland

Temperature regulation Feeding

Functions of the Hypothalamus

Autonomic nervous system regulation Hormone production Endocrine regulation Circadian rhythm regulation Limbic system interaction Various Temperature
Posterior n. conserves heat Anterior n. dissipates heat Fever starts sweating Fever ends chills

Feeding
Lateral n. induces eating Ventromedial n. inhibits eating

Temperature regulation 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

Cingulate Gyrus Cingulate Gyrus Thalamocingulate radiations fornix Ant. Thalamic Ant. Thalamic Nucleus Nucleus Hippocampus Hippocampus Mammillothalamic tract cingulum

Mammillary Mammillary Body Body

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, autonomic responses, fear, rage, anxiety

Klver-Bucy Syndrome

Placidity Visual agnosia Oral tendencies Hypersexuality