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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.
The hypothalamus helps manage your body temperature, hunger and thirst, mood, sex drive, blood pressure and sleep. 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. 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:
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:
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 pituitaryThis chart shows the hormones released by your hypothalamus to your anterior pituitary, the hormone the pituitary releases in turn and what the hormone does.
Posterior pituitaryYour 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:
Other roles of the hypothalamusYour hypothalamus also produces these hormones:
Your hypothalamus also corrects any imbalances in body temperature, stress and your daily bodily rhythms.
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.
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: Hypothalamus dysfunction plays a role in:
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: 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, mood, muscle and bone growth and sexual drive. Many conditions can affect your hypothalamus, causing a wide range of health problems.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 03/16/2022. References
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