Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus is an area of the brain called the Procencephalon. The many hormones and neurotransmitters produced in hypothalamus control:


 * Body temperature
 * Hunger and satiety
 * Moods and emotions
 * Sex drive
 * Sleep
 * Thirst

The hypothalamus (from Greek ὑπό = under and θάλαμος = room, chamber) is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland (hypophysis).

The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus, just above the brainstem. In the terminology of neuroanatomy, it forms the ventral part of the diencephalon. All vertebrate brains contain a hypothalamus. In humans, it is roughly the size of an almond.

The hypothalamus is responsible for certain metabolic processes and other activities of the autonomic nervous system. It synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, often called releasing hormones or hypothalamic hormones, and these in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, important aspects of parenting and attachment behaviors, thirst, Definition of hypothalamus - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: fatigue, [[sleep], and circadian rhythms.