HYPOTHALAMUS

Hypothalamus is present beneath the thalamus. It controls and integrates

the autonomic nervous system, receives sensory impulses from viscera,
connects the nervous and endocrinal system, secretes a variety of
regulating hormones.

The main afferent connections of the hypothalamus are with the limbic
system and midbrain tegmentum.

AFFERENT CONNECTIONS FROM THE LIMBIC SYSTEM

Tracts Description
1. Medial forebrain bundle
2. Stria Terminalis
3. Fornix
Post commissural fibers
precommissural fibers
4. Medial corticohypothalamic tract
AFFERENTS FROM THE MIDBRAIN TEGMENTUM
Adrenergic fibers
Serotoninergic fibers
Connects piriform cortex and
amygdala with the lateral
hypothalamus
Connects amygdaloid nucleus with
ventromedial nucleus of the
hypothalamus
Connects the hippocampus with
mamillary bodies
connects with hippocampus with
lateral hypothalamus
Connects the hypothalamus with
arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus
Epinephrine secreting neurons form
medulla to ventral hypothalamus
Serotonin secreting neurons
projecting from dorsal nuclei to
hypothalamus
Non adrenergic fibers
Afferents from Retina , Thalamus
and basal ganglia
Retinohypothalamic tract
Thalamohypothalamic tract
Pallidohypothalamic tract
EFFERENT CONNECTIONS
1. Ventral pathways
2. Stria terminalis
3. Medial forebrain bundle
4. Mammillo-thalamic tract
5. Mammilotegmental tract
6. Hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract
Nor epinephrine secreting neurons
projecting from nucleus of tractus
solitarius and ventrolateral medulla
to paraventricular nuclei.
Connects optic nerve fibres from
optic chiasma with suprachiasmatic
nuclei
Connects medial and midline
thalamic nuclei to hypothalamus
Connects lenticular nucleus to
hypothalamus
Connects lateral hypothalamus with
amygdaloid nucleus
Connects ventromedial nucleus with
amygdaloid nucleus
Connects lateral hypothalamus with
septal nuclei
Arises from the medial mammillary
nucleus, passes to anterior thalamic
nucleus and finally end in the
cingulate gyrus.
Connects hypothaalmus with
reticular formation of midbrain
Arises from supraoptic and
paraventricular nuclei and runs to the
posterior pituitary
FUNCTIONS

1. Regulation of body temperature.

2. Regulation of activity of anterior pituitary gland
3. Formation of posterior pituitary hormones and the regulation of
their secretion.
4. Control of sleep-waking cycle.
5. Control of integration of the ANS
6. Control of hunger and feeding
7. Control of water intake and the sensation of thirst
8. Participation in the production of emotional behaviour
9. Integrated control of CVS

1. Regulation of body temperature

Role in control of heat production and heat loss.

2. Regulation of anterior pituitary gland activity

Release of releasing factors and release inhibiting factors into
hypothalamus-hypophyseal portal system. These factors regulate
the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones.

3. Regulation of posterior pituitary hormones

4. Control of circadian rhythm

The suprachiasmatic nuclei are the main site for many circadian
rhythms in the body. These nuclei receive an important inputs
from:
The eyes via retinohypothalamic fibres
The lateral geniculate nuclei
Their normal function is to synchronize the various body rhythms
to the 24 hour light-dark cycle.
Physiological significance
I. The circadian enables homeostatic mechanisms to be utilised
immediately and automaticaly.
II. Has effects on the body's resistance to various drugs.

5. Control of sleep- waking cycle

 Basic rhythm is controlled by the biological clock regulated by
hypothalamus.

6. Control of ANS
Hypothalamus is called head ganglion of the ANS
I. Stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus causes parasympathetic
response.
II. Stimulation of lateral areas of the hypothalamus causes
sympathetic response.
III. Stimulation of mid-dorsal area of the hypothalamus causes
cholinergic sympathetic vasodilation.

7. Control of hunger and feeding

Two hypothalamic centres concerned with hunger and feeding
I. The ventromedial nuclei act as a Satiety Center
II. The lateral hypothalamic area act as a Feeding Center

MECHANISM

The Satiety Center is the primary center that controls food intake.
It inhibits the feeding center.
The feeding center is chronically active and is inhibited after
ingestion of food by the satiety center.
The cells of the ventromedial nuclei function as glucoreceptors.
They sense the glucose in the blood. Therefore, if the cells are
adequately supplied with glucose ,their activity is decreased.

Factors increasing food intake

I. Stimulation of alpha2 adrenergic receptors in the medial

hypothalamus
II. Centrally acting opiate agonists

Factors decreasing food intake

I. Stimulation of beta adrenergic receptors and dopaminergic

receptors in the lateral hypothalamus.
Stimulation of serotoninergic pathways.
 II. Control of water intake

Plasma osmolality ECFV Haemorrhage

Diarrhea

Osmoreceptors Angiotensin II ECFV

(anterior hypothalamus)

Blood Volume

Baroreceptors

STIMULATE STIMULATE STIMULATE

THIRST

Increase in plasma osmolality or decrease in ECFV stimulate osmoreceptors

located in anterior hypothalamus and baroreceptors ,that further stimulate
ADH secretion.

Renin – Angiotensin system acts with decrease in ECFV and stimulates

thirst by acting on receptors in OVLT area of the circumventricular organs
Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Functions of thalamus are

a) Control of muscular movements
b) Concerned with emotion
c) Integrating centre most inputs
d) All of the above

2. Lesion of thalamus leads to

a) Ataxia
b) Intentional tremors
c) Loss of tactile discrimination
d) All of the above

3. Lateral geniculate body is concerned with

a) Vision
b) Hearing
c) Fine touch
d) Memory

4. Medial geniculate body is concerned with

a) Vision
b) Hearing
c) Fine touch
d) Memory

5. Function of hypothalamus is
a) Regulation of body posture
b) Regulation of activities of anterior pituitary gland
c) Regulation of posterior pituitary hormones
d) Control thirst
e) All of the above
6. True of hypothalamus are all except
a) Increase in plasma osmolality stimulates osmoreceptors
b) Increase in plasma osmolality stimulates baroreceptors
c) Satiety centre control food intake
d) Feeding centre is activated by ingestion of food

7. Satiety centre is located in

a) Ventromedial nucleus
b) Dorsomedial nucleus
c) Lateral nucleus
d) Dorsal hypothalamus

8. Circadian rhythm is controlled by

a) Thalamus
b) Suprachiasmatic nuclei
c) Pulvinar nuclei
d) Ventral nucleus