Overview At the core of any well-oiled machine, there is a busy engine that keeps it going. The hypothalamus is at the center of a plethora of physiological processes including, but not limited to, thermoregulation, osmoregulation and hormonal regulation. It also works closely with the pituitary gland to modulate endocrine activity based on the bodys physiological demands. The purpose of this article will be to evaluate the gross anatomical organization and vascular supply of the hypothalamus. Additionally, the article will look at key anatomical relationships to other structures, some associated neuronal pathways and the function of different nuclei of the gland. Recommended video: Medial view of the brain Structures seen on the medial view of the brain. The images show a midsagittal section of the brain. The left and right lateral walls of the third ventricle are divided by an anteroposterior depression known as the hypothalamic sulcus. It runs from the anterior tip of the fornix between the interventricular foramen of Monro superiorly and the anterior commissure inferiorly to the posterior commissure (superior to the beginning of the cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius). This depression separates the thalamus (superiorly) from the hypothalamus (inferiorly). The hypothalamus is composed mainly of different nuclei … Continue reading →

Are you hot right now? Cold? Maybe you're like Goldilocks and are just right. What about your height? Are you tall? Average? Short? Maybe your metabolism is lightning fast and you're always hungry, or maybe it's a bit slow and you stay full longer. All of theseregardless of which one you identify withare regulated by the endocrine system. (Hypothalamus and pituitary, highlighted in blue) I'm going to be throwing a lot of information at you, dear reader, so brace yourself! Its no secret your brain is one busy placeneurons move at incredible speeds, synapses are constantly firing, blood is pumping, and glands are producing hormones. These glands, specifically the hypothalamus and pituitary, are working all the time to keep your body running at optimal performance.Every hormone the endocrine system releases follows a basic set-up: a signal is received, hormones are secreted, and the target cell undergoes changes to its basic functions. The almond-sized hypothalamus is located below the thalamus and sits just above the brainstem. All vertebrate brains have a hypothalamus. Its primary function is to maintain homeostasis (stability of the internal environment) in the body. The hypothalamus links the nervous and endocrine systems by way of the pituitary gland. … Continue reading →

The thalamus is a busy place in the human brain, and a stroke there can have a wide range of effects. By Jon Caswell The thalamus is a busy place in the human brain, and a stroke there can have a wide range of effects. Jeremy Schmahmann, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, director of the ataxia unit and member of the cognitive behavioral neurology unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, shared more about this type of stroke. The thalamus, which means "inner chamber" in Greek, is on top of the brainstem near the center of the brain. It has two halves, each about the size of a walnut. "The thalamus is divided into many different areas, which are connected very specifically to different parts of the brain," Dr. Schmahmann said. "A stroke in one part of the thalamus will not have the same effect as a stroke in another part." The thalamus has many functions, including: The thalamus can be thought of as a "relay station," receiving signals from the brains outer regions (cerebral cortex), interpreting them, then sending them to other areas of the brain to complete their job. Though relatively small, the thalamus controls a big part … Continue reading →