hypothalamus

noun

hy·​po·​thal·​a·​mus ˌhī-pō-ˈtha-lə-məs 

: a basal part of the diencephalon that lies beneath the thalamus on each side, forms the floor of the third ventricle, and includes vital autonomic regulatory centers

Examples of hypothalamus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide produced in the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland during times of intimacy like hugging and breastfeeding. —Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025

An Unexpected Brain Target The research didn’t begin with the lateral hypothalamus in mind. —IEEE Spectrum, 8 Dec. 2024

The lateral hypothalamus is more closely associated with feeding, energy intake and reward behavior. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 8 Dec. 2024

During a migraine attack, the hypothalamus is thought to lose control over a collection of structures in the brain called the limbic system, which affects how a person responds to pain. —Helen Thomson, WIRED, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin (in a German context), from hypo- hypo- + thalamus thalamus

Note: The term was introduced in an article by the Swiss-born anatomist Wilhelm His (1831-1904), "Ueber das frontale Ende des Gehirnrohres," Archiv für Anatomie und Physiologie: Anatomische Abtheilung, Jahrgang 1893, p. 159. His attributes the suggestion of the word to his colleague "Waldeyer" (the anatomist Heinrich Wilhelm Gottfried von Waldeyer-Hartz, 1836-1921), as a replacement for his own coinage Regio subthalamica.

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hypothalamus

• panoramas
• pyramus

Kids Definition

hypothalamus

noun

hy·​po·​thal·​a·​mus ˌhī-pō-ˈthal-ə-məs 

: a part of the brain that lies beneath the thalamus, produces hormones which pass to the front part of the pituitary gland, and is important in regulating the activities of the autonomic nervous system

Medical Definition

hypothalamus

noun

hy·​po·​thal·​a·​mus -ˈthal-ə-məs 

plural hypothalami -ˌmī 

: a basal part of the diencephalon that lies beneath the thalamus on each side, forms the floor of the third ventricle, and includes vital autonomic regulatory centers (as for the control of food intake)