8/30/23, 12:16 PM Hypothalamus: What It Is, Function, Conditions & Disorders

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Hypothalamus

Your hypothalamus, a structure deep in your brain, acts as your body’s smart
control coordinating center. Its main function is to keep your body in a stable
state called homeostasis. It does its job by directly influencing your autonomic
nervous system or by managing hormones. Many conditions can damage your
hypothalamus, which can affect many bodily functions.

Anatomy Conditions and Disorders

FUNCTION

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The hypothalamus helps manage your body temperature, hunger and thirst, mood, sex drive, blood pressure
and sleep.

What is the hypothalamus?

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8/30/23, 12:16 PM Hypothalamus: What It Is, Function, Conditions & Disorders

The hypothalamus is a structure deep within your brain. It’s the main link
between your endocrine system and your nervous system. Your
hypothalamus keeps your body balanced in a stable state called
homeostasis.

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What does your hypothalamus do?

Your hypothalamus receives chemical messages from nerve cells in your
brain and from nerve cells in your body (your peripheral nervous system),
which is also responding to signals outside your body.

Your hypothalamus’s main function is to react to these messages to keep

your body in a stable state or internal balance. Just like you may have a
“smart control” system to seamlessly manage all functions in your home,
your hypothalamus is your body’s “smart control” coordinating center. Your
hypothalamus helps manage your:

Body temperature.
Blood pressure.
Hunger and thirst.
Sense of fullness when eating.
Mood.
Sex drive.
Sleep.

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8/30/23, 12:16 PM Hypothalamus: What It Is, Function, Conditions & Disorders

Your hypothalamus performs many of its “body balancing” jobs either by

directly influencing the autonomic nervous system or by managing
hormones. Your autonomic nervous system (bodily functions that work
automatically) control several important functions, such as your heart rate
and breathing (respiration).

Hormones are the “chemical messengers” that travel in your bloodstream to

another part of your body. Hormones communicate either with another
endocrine gland (which release other hormones) or with a specific organ.

Your hypothalamus:

Makes some hormones itself that are stored elsewhere (in your posterior
pituitary).
Sends signals (hormones) to your pituitary gland, which either releases
hormones that directly affect a part of your body or sends another signal
(hormone) to a different gland in your body that then releases its
hormone.

How does the hypothalamus interact with the

pituitary gland?
Your pituitary gland sits just below your hypothalamus. It consists of two
lobes, called the anterior pituitary and posterior pituitary. Your
hypothalamus is connected to and communicates with your anterior lobe
through a network of blood vessels. It communicates with your posterior
lobe by tissue called the pituitary stalk.

Your hypothalamus sends signals in the form of releasing hormones to tell

the anterior and posterior pituitary when to release (secrete) its hormones.

Anterior pituitary
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This chart shows the hormones released by your hypothalamus to your

anterior pituitary, the hormone the pituitary releases in turn and what the
hormone does.

Hypothalamus-releasing hormone

Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)

Hormone released by the anterior pituitary in response

Growth hormone (GH)

Effect of the hormone

Goes directly to your long bones and the big muscles to stimulate growth.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Hormone released by the anterior pituitary in response

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)

Effect of the hormone

Travels to gonads. In males, LH causes the testes to make testosterone; FSH controls
sperm production. In females, LH and FSH control the menstrual cycle and trigger the
release of an egg from the ovary (ovulation).

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)

Hormone released by the anterior pituitary in response

Adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH)
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8/30/23, 12:16 PM Hypothalamus: What It Is, Function, Conditions & Disorders

Hypothalamus-releasing hormone

Effect of the hormone

Travels to your adrenal glands. Causes youe adrenal glands to release the stress hormone
cortisol and regulate metabolism and immune response.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)

Hormone released by the anterior pituitary in response

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Effect of the hormone

Travels to your thyroid gland. Causes your thyroid to release thyroxine (T4) and
triiodothyronine (T3).

Dopamine (inhibition)

Hormone released by the anterior pituitary in response

Prolactin (PRL)

Effect of the hormone

Goes directly to breast tissue to produce breast milk

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Posterior pituitary
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8/30/23, 12:16 PM Hypothalamus: What It Is, Function, Conditions & Disorders

Your hypothalamus makes two hormones but stores them in the posterior
pituitary. When these hormones are needed, your hypothalamus sends a
signal to the posterior pituitary to release them into the bloodstream. These
two hormones are:

Oxytocin: This hormone assists in the birthing process (stimulates

uterine muscle contraction) and in lactation (release of breast milk). It’s
also thought to play a role in human bonding, sexual arousal, trust,
recognition, sleep cycle and feelings of well-being.
Vasopressin: This hormone, also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH),
regulates control of your body’s water/urine volume and blood pressure.

Other roles of the hypothalamus

Your hypothalamus also produces these hormones:

Dopamine. Dopamine is the “feel-good” hormone. It gives you a sense of

pleasure. It gives you the motivation to do something when you are
feeling pleasure. Dopamine signals the pituitary to stop releasing
prolactin.
Somatostatin. This hormone prevents the secretion of several other
hormones, including growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone,
cholecystokinin and insulin. In turn, all of these hormones control the
production of somatostatin.

Your hypothalamus also corrects any imbalances in body temperature,

stress and your daily bodily rhythms.

ANATOMY

Where is the hypothalamus located?

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Your hypothalamus, which is about the size of an almond, is located below

the thalamus and above your pituitary gland. It sits directly above the
brainstem at the base of your brain.

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CONDITIONS AND DISORDERS

What happens if the hypothalamus is damaged?

When your hypothalamus is damaged, it doesn’t function as it should.
Another term for when there’s a problem with your hypothalamus is
hypothalamic dysfunction.

Causes of hypothalamic dysfunction include:

Head injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury.

Brain infection.
Brain tumor in or around your hypothalamus or brain aneurysms.
Significant weight loss caused by eating disorders, such as bulimia or
anorexia.
Brain surgery.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Birth defects involving the brain or hypothalamus.
Inflammatory disease including multiple sclerosis and neurosarcoidosis.
Some genetic disorders, such as growth hormone deficiency.

Hypothalamus dysfunction plays a role in:

Hypothalamic-pituitary disorders: Because of the close interactions

between your hypothalamus and pituitary gland, conditions that affect Ad

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either are called hypothalamic-pituitary disorders. Certain hormone tests

can help determine the exact hormone involved to make a more specific
diagnosis.
Hypopituitarism: This condition can be caused by damage to your
pituitary gland or to your hypothalamus, which directly affects the
pituitary gland.
Diabetes insipidus: This condition happens when your hypothalamus
doesn’t produce and release enough vasopressin. This causes your
kidneys to lose too much water and results in excessive peeing and
thirst.
Prader-Willi syndrome: This inherited disorder causes your
hypothalamus not to recognize the sensation that you’re full when you’re
eating. Without this sensation, you have a constant urge to eat and are at
risk for obesity.
Kallmann syndrome: This syndrome has a genetic link to hypothalamic
disease, causing such hypothalamic problems in children as delayed or
no puberty.
Acromegaly and pituitary gigantism: These are rare disorders of growth
due to excessive release of growth hormone from your pituitary gland.
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone: This occurs when the
antidiuretic hormone level is too high. Causes include stroke,
hemorrhage, infection, trauma, cancer and certain medications.
Central hypothyroidism: Central hypothyroidism is a rare disorder that
occurs due to both hypothalamic and pituitary disorders. The most
common cause is a pituitary tumor such as a pituitary adenoma.
Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: This condition is the absence of a
period for more than three months in people assigned female at birth
(AFAB) who previously had regular periods or more than six months in
people AFAB who have irregular menstruation. The most common cause
of this condition is hypothalamic dysfunction.
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8/30/23, 12:16 PM Hypothalamus: What It Is, Function, Conditions & Disorders

Hyperprolactinemia: A decrease in dopamine levels cause an increase in

prolactin levels. Causes include a tumor, damage to nerve cells in the
hypothalamus and other causes.

What are the symptoms of hypothalamus

dysfunction?
Symptoms of hypothalamus dysfunction correspond to the types of
hormone involved and if the hormone level is too low or too high. Some
symptoms of a hypothalamus problem may include:

High blood pressure or low blood pressure.

Water retention or dehydration.
Weight loss or weight gain with or without changes in appetite.
Infertility.
Poor bone health.
Delayed puberty.
Muscle loss and weakness.
Body temperature fluctuations.
Trouble sleeping (insomnia).
Frequent need to pee.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Your brain’s hypothalamus is the “smart control” coordinating center of your

body. Just like your home’s “smart control” system automatically adjusts
heat, cold, security and everything you need to have a successfully
functioning home, so too does your hypothalamus serve in this same
capacity in your body. It works directly on your autonomic system to
seamlessly manage such functions as your heart rate, blood pressure and
body temperature. It also works by releasing hormones that direct other
hormones or other glands to manage other bodily functions like sleep,
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mood, muscle and bone growth and sexual drive. Many conditions can
affect your hypothalamus, causing a wide range of health problems.

Medically Reviewed

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 03/16/2022.

Learn more about our editorial process.

References

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