Printed for you from the St. Mary's of Michigan website on 09/09/10
St. Mary's of Michigan : ADAM Health Illustrated Encylopedia
For physician referrals or other questions, please call us at 1-800-STMARYS (786-2797).


More from St. Mary's of Michigan
Find a Physician
More Features
 

Hypothalamus

Definition

The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that produces hormones that control:

  • Body temperature
  • Hunger
  • Moods
  • Release of hormones from many glands, especially the pituitary gland
  • Sex drive
  • Sleep
  • Thirst

References

Hadley ME, Levine JE. Endocrinology. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall; 2007:111-133.

Coll AP, Farooqi IS, O’Rahilly S. The hormonal control of food intake. Cell. 2007;129(2):251-262.


Review Date: 10/14/2009
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed byDavid Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
adam.com
 
We welcome your feedback
Did you find this page helpful ? Y N
Do you have a brief comment on this page ? (up to 250 characters) NOTE: If you have a question, please use our Contact Form
NOTE: If you are requesting a response to this comment, please do not use this page. Instead, please use the Contact Form.