| hypothalamus | <anatomy, endocrinology> A portion of the brain which lies beneath the thalamus and secretes substances which control metabolism by exerting an influence on pituitary gland function. The hypothalamus is also involved in the regulation of body temperature, water balance, blood sugar and fat metabolism. The hypothalamus also regulates other glands such as the ovaries, parathyroids and thyroid. (11 Jan 1998) |
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| hypothalamus, anterior | The anterior portion of the hypothalamus containing the lateral and medial preoptic nuclei, the supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus, and the anterior hypothalamic nucleus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hypothalamus, middle | That middle portion of the hypothalamus containing the arcuate, dorsomedial, and ventromedial nuclei, and the lateral hypothalamic area. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hypothalamus, posterior | The posterior portion of the hypothalamus, consisting of the lateral and medial nuclei of the mamillary body and the posterior hypothalamic nucleus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mamillary tubercle of hypothalamus | A small, round, paired cell group that protrudes into the interpeduncular fossa from the inferior aspect of the hypothalamus. It receives hippocampal fibres through the fornix and projects fibres to the anterior thalamic nuclei and into the brainstem tegmentum. Synonym: corpus mamillare, mamillary tubercle of hypothalamus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus | <anatomy> A circumscript ovoid group of small neurons in the medial zone of the tuberal region of the hypothalamus. Bilateral destruction of this nucleus in the rat leads to severe obesity. It receives numerous fibres from the amygdala via the terminal stria; its efferent connections are obscure. Synonym: nucleus ventromedialis hypothalami. (05 Mar 2000) |
| supraoptic nucleus of hypothalamus | A large-celled neurosecretory nucleus in the hypothalamus, located over the lateral border of the optic tract, from which the supraopticohypophysial tract arises; its neurons produce and transport vasopressin released into the general circulation from the axon terminals in the supraopticohypophysial tract. Synonym: nucleus supraopticus hypothalami, supraoptic nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorsomedial nucleus of hypothalamus | An oval cluster of cells located dorsal to the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Synonym: nucleus dorsomedialis hypothalami, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus. (05 Mar 2000) |