Anterior hypothalamus

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Anterior Hypothalamus

The Anterior Hypothalamus (pronunciation: an-TEER-ee-or hy-po-THAL-uh-muhs) is a region of the brain that plays a crucial role in many physiological processes.

Etymology

The term "Anterior Hypothalamus" is derived from the Latin words 'anterior' meaning 'front' and 'hypothalamus' which is a combination of 'hypo' meaning 'under' and 'thalamus' meaning 'inner room'. This refers to its location in the brain, beneath the thalamus.

Function

The Anterior Hypothalamus is involved in a variety of functions including thermoregulation, sleep regulation, sexual behavior, and hunger and thirst responses. It is also responsible for the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system, and plays a role in emotion and memory.

Related Terms

  • Hypothalamus: The part of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
  • Posterior Hypothalamus: The back part of the hypothalamus responsible for functions such as thermoregulation and arousal.
  • Thalamus: The large mass of gray matter in the dorsal part of the diencephalon of the brain with several functions such as relaying of sensory signals, including motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.
  • Autonomic Nervous System: The part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.

External links

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