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Hypothalamus: Difference between revisions
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The [[Hypothalamus]] is a small part of the brain that contains a number of nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the [[Pituitary Gland]]. The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus and is part of the limbic system. It forms the ventral part of the diencephalon. All vertebrate brains contain a hypothalamus. In humans, it is the size of an almond. | The [[Hypothalamus]] is a small part of the brain that contains a number of nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the [[Pituitary Gland]]. The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus and is part of the limbic system. It forms the ventral part of the diencephalon. All vertebrate brains contain a hypothalamus. In humans, it is the size of an almond. | ||
The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating certain metabolic processes and other activities of the autonomic nervous system. It synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, called releasing hormones or hypothalamic hormones, and these in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, important aspects of parenting and maternal attachment behaviours, thirst, fatigue, sleep, circadian rhythms, | The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating certain metabolic processes and other activities of the autonomic nervous system. It synthesizes and secretes certain neurohormones, called releasing hormones or hypothalamic hormones, and these in turn stimulate or inhibit the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, important aspects of parenting and maternal attachment behaviours, thirst, fatigue, sleep, circadian rhythms. | ||
==Optic Chiasm== | |||
[[File:1543,Visalius'OpticChiasma.jpg|thumb|optic Chiasm]] | |||
The [[Optic Chiasm]] is located at the bottom of the brain immediately below the [[Hypothalamus]]. One of the most important functions of the [[Hypothalamus]] is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the [[Pituitary Gland]]. The [[Optic Chiasm]] allows the images from either side of the field from both eyes to be transmitted to the appropriate side of the brain, combining the sides together. This allows for parts of both eyes that attend to the right visual field to be processed in the left visual system in the brain, and vice versa. This is linked to skin sensation.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_chiasm Optic Chiasm]</ref> | |||
==Connections== | ==Connections== | ||