Hypothalamus Reviewer (Haines

based)

Divisions of Hypothalamus
-

Hypothalamus
-

regulates visceromotor
functions as well as other bodily
functions
part of the diencephalon
involved in the central control of
visceral functions (through the
visceromotor and endocrine
systems)
consists of 4g of the brain;
necessary for life
boundaries:
o Rostral: lamina terminalis
(anterior boundary of 3rd
ventricle)
o Superior: hypothalamic
sulcus (separates
hypothalamus from
dorsal thalamus)
o Lateral: substatia
innominata and posterior
limb of internal capsul
o Medial: inferior portion of
3rd ventricle
o Caudal: midbrain
tegmentum and
periaqueductal gray

Mammillary body external boundary

used as a landmark to search for
hypothalamic lesions

Preoptic Area
-

Inferior continuation of
hypothalamus via the
hypophyseal stalk and the
infundibulum
Connection leaves pituitary
vulnerable to insults; damaged
stalk may contribute to
eventual development of DI

Derived from telencephalon;

contains medial and lateral
preoptic nuclei
Medial preoptic nucleus =
produce GnRH; larger and more
active in males than females;
sexually dimorphic nuclei
Lateral preoptic nucleus =
rostral to lateral hypothalamic
zone; for locomotor regulation

Lateral Zone
-

Pituitary gland
-

Most medial zone =

periventricular zone
Most rostral division = preoptic
area

Contains the medial forebrain

bundle of axons, and the lateral
hypothalamic nucleus and the
tuberal nuclei
Comprises the lateral
hypothalamic area
Lateral hypothalamic nucleus =
when stimulated, promotes
feeding and subsequent weight
gain
Tuberal nuclei = multipolar cells
which project to the
tuberoinfundibular tract; may
convery releasing hormones
and send histaminergic input to
the cerebellum for regulation of
motor activity

Medial Zone
-

Contains three zones, each with

nuclei comprising the region
where it is located
o Supraoptic region = at
optic chiasm

Tuberal region = at tuber

cinereum; widest part of
hypothalamus
o Mammillary region = at
mammillary bodies; most
posterior part
Supraoptic region = has 4
nuclei
o Supraoptic nucleus and
Paraventricular nucleus =
contain oxytocin and ADH
which it transmits to
posterior pituitary via
supraopticohypohysial
tract
o Suprachiamatic nucleus
= receives input from
retina; mediates circadian
rhythm
o Anterior nucleus = rostral
to preoptic area;
maintains body
temperature
Tuberal region = has 3 nuclei
o Ventromedial nucleus =
satiety center;
stimulation promotes
early satiety when eating
and results to subsequent
weight loss
o Dorsomedial nucleus =
for emotional behaviour;
stimulation results to
increased aggressiveness
so long as stimuli is in
effect (sham rage)
o Arcuate nucleus =
primary location of
neurons containing
releasing hormones;
influence release of
various pituitary
hormones
Mammillary region = has 4
nuclei
o

Medial mammillary
nucleus = termination
point for axons of
postcommissural fornix;
comprise the
mammillothalamic tract,
a part of the limbic
system
o Intermediate mammillary
and Lateral mammillary
nuclei = lateral
mammillary receives
input from ventricular
formation via mammillary
peduncle
o Posterior hypothalamic
nucleus = associated
with emotional,
cardiovascular, and
analgesic functions of the
periaqueductal gray
Mammillary nuclei function for
memory retention
Lesions result to frequent short
term memories and
anterograde amnesia
o

Korsakoff syndrome = degeneration of

mammillary bodies caused by chronic
alcoholism and thiamine deficiency;
presents with failure to remember
recently said or read words, thus
patient tends to confabulate
Periventricular Zone
-

Medial to medial zone and

projects to the
tuberoinfundibular tract,
stimulating hormone release of
the anterior pituitary; functions
similar to arcuate nucleus

Blood Supply of Hypothalamus

-

Arise from the circle of Willis

Anterior communicating artery

+ A1 segment of anterior
cerebral artery = supply
preoptic area and supraoptic
region; anteromedial group of
perforating arteries
Posterior communicating artery
+ P1 segment of posterior
cerebral artery = supply the
tuberal and mammillary
regions; posteromedial group of
perforating arteries
o Rostral PCA -> tuberal
region
o Caudal PCA + P1
segment -> mammillary
region
o P1 segment ->
thalamoperforating
arteries -> dorsal
thalamus
Hypohyseal arteries = from the
ICA

Hypothalamic Afferent Fibers

Fornix
-

largest single input to the

hypothalamus; from subiculum
and hippocampus
divides into precommissural and
postcommissural bundles
o Precommissural bundle
-> septal and preoptic
nuclei and anterior
hypothalamic region
o Postcommissural bundle
-> medial mammillary
nucleus, anterior
thalamic nucleus and
lateral hypothalamus

Medial Forebrain Bundle

With ascending and descending

fibers that interconnect the
septal nuclei, hypothalamus,
and midbrain tegmentum

Amygdalohypothalamic Fibers
-

Consists of two portions: stria

terminalis and ventral
amygdalofugal pathway
o Stria terminalis =
terminates to the septal
nuclei, preoptic nuclei
and medial hypothalamic
zone
o Ventral amygdalofugal
pathway = terminates to
the lateral hypothalamic
zone, septal nuclei and
preoptic nuclei

Other Afferent Fibers

1. Mammillary Peduncle originate
from medial portions of reticular
formation to lateral mammillary
nucleus
2. Thalamohypothalamic fibers
originate from dorsomedial
nucleus of thalamus and enters
the lateral hypothalamus
3. Corticohypothalamic fibers
originate from prefrontal cortex;
terminates primarily in the
lateral hypothalamic area
4. Retinohypothalamic fibers
from optic chiasm
Hypothalamic Efferent Fibers
-

Most structures projecting to

hypothalamus receive a
reciprocal input
Ascending projections: to
forebrain structures

Descending projections: to
brainstem and spinal structures

Ascending Fibers
-

Mammillary fasciculus = from

medial mammillary nucleus;
bifurcates into
mammillothalamic tract and
mammillotegmental tract
o Mammillothalamic tract =
projects to anterior
nucleus of thalamus
(circuit of Papez)
o Mammillotegmental tract
= projects to tegmental
nuclei of the reticular
formation
Hypothalamothalamic fibers =
lateral preoptic area to DM
nucleus of thalamus
Hypothalamoamygdaloid fibers
= via stria terminalis and
ventral amygdalofugal pathway
to corticomedial nuclei of
amygdala

Descending Fibers
-

Hypothalamomedullary and
hypothalamospinal fibers =
form an essential and direct link
between the hypothalamus and
autonomic nuclei of the medulla
and spinal cord; both arise from
paraventricular nucleus
o Injury to
hypothalamospinal fibers
results to ipsilateral
paralysis of the face and
head (Horner syndrome)
as well as the body
o Hypothalamomedullary
fibers terminate in the
solitary nucleus, dorsal
vagal motor nucleus,

nucleus ambiguus, and

other nuclei of the
anterolateral medulla.
o Hypothalamospinal
fibers traverse the
periaqueductal gray and
dorsal tegmentum of the
midbrain and pons
Posterior longitudinal fasciculus
= originate from nuclei of the
medial hypothalamic zone
Mammillotegmental tract =
from medial mammillary
nucleus; terminates at posterior
(dorsal) and anterior (ventral)
tegmental nuclei
o Posterior longitudinal
fasciculus and
mammillotegmental tract
= both terminate at
periaqueductal gray;
indirectly influence
autonomic nuclei of
brainstem

Intrinsic Hypothalamic Connections

-

Supraopticohypophysical tract
o Contains ADH and
oxytocin (magnocellular
neurons of supraoptic
and paraventricular
nuclei)
o Continues to posterior
pituitary
Tuberoinfundibular Tract
o Releasing hormones
(parvocellular neurons of
arcuate nucleus and
periventricular zone)
o Contribution from
paraventricular,
suprachiasmatic, tuberal
and medial preoptic
nuclei

Releasing Hormones of the

Hypothalamus
-

Thyrotropin RH
Growth Hormone RH
Growth Hormone Release
Inhibiting Hormone
(Somatostatin)
Corticotropin Releasing Factor
Gonadotropin RH
Prolactin RH
RH are conveyed to the median
eminence (most inferior aspect
of the tuberal region) to
stimulate the release of
pituitary hormones

Adenohypohysis Pituitary Hormones

-

Growth hormone (development

of musculoskeletal system)
Gonadotropins (affect ovary and
testis)
Corticotropin (cortex of adrenal
glands)
Thyrotropin (thyroid gland)
Prolactin (milk production)
All exit the pituitary via
hypophyseal veins to the
systemic circulation

Secretory properties: prolactin

most common
Size: 1 cm in greatest
dimension macro adenoma
Invasive tumors erode and
extend into dura mater and
sphenoid bone

Pituitary Hormone Clinical Problems

-

Growth Hormone = gigantism

(before closure of epiphyseal
plates), acromegaly (after
closure)
Thyrotropin = hypo or
hyperthyroidism
Corticotropin = Cushings
disease/hyperadrenalism
Prolactin = amenorrhea,
galactorrhea
Gonadotrope Hormones (FSH
and LH) = LH excess cause
premature pubertal changes
(precocious puberty) in males
and disruption of ovarian
cyclicity in females; may also
contribute to motor and visual
deficits

*Take note of Table 30-2 Haines, p. 425

Regional Functions of the

Hypothalamus

Pituitary Tumors

Caudolateral Hypothalamus

Expresses hypothalamic
functions
12% of brain tumors
Incidental tumors on autopsy
3.2- 22.5%
Generally noncancerous
(adenomas), in young adults
o Increase frequency in
5th, 6th, and 7th decade

Pituitary Tumor Classification

-

Stimulation associated with

anxiety
o Increased activity of
sympathetic division of
visceromotor system
o Aggressive behavior
o Hunger
o Increased body
temperature (cutaneous
vasoconstriction and
shivering)
Lesion results in opposite
effects

o
o

Inhibition of sympathetic
activities
Reduction of body
temperature

Rostromedial Hypothalamus
-

Stimulation associated with

contentment
o Increased
parasympathetic activity
of visceromotor system
o Passive behaviour
o Satiety
o Decreased body
temperature (cutaneous
vasodilation and
sweating)
Lesions elicit opposite
behaviour
o Inhibition of
parasympathetic activity
of visceromotor system
o Increased body
temperature

Hypothalamic Reflexes
-

Vital functions of hypothalamus

not under conscious control
Learning to alter responses
o Meditation
o Biofeedback training (BP
and body temp)
o Mechanism unknown
Hypothalamus via autonomic
and endocrine system can
change internal environment

Baroreceptor reflex = neural

reflex; BP regulation via aortic
arch and carotid sinus
baroreceptors
o Sense BP variation and
transmit information to
medullary solitary
nucleus which activate
dorsal vagal nucleus and
influence terminal ganglia
of heart
Temperature regulation reflex =
neural reflex; maintenance of
constant body temperature by
temperature-sensing neurons in
hypothalamus (intrinsic
receptors found in the CNS)
o Temperature above
normal -> stimulate
rostal hypothalamus to
bring temperature down
to normal
o Temperature below
normal -> stimulate
caudal hypothalamus to
bring temperature up to
normal
Water balance reflex =
neurohumoral reflex (Efferent
limb is hormonal signal (ADH));
for control of ADH secretion and
water retention relative to blood
osmolarity (low ADH, low
osmolarity, no water retention)