The Hypothalamus and Hypothalamohypophysial Systems

Abstract

The rather small hypothalamus contains a large number of more or less well-defined cell groups that are of utmost importance for preserving the individual and the species. The hypothalamus is involved in a wide variety of functions in the brain and is characterized by numerous connections with practically every major part of the central nervous system (CNS), including the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, the amygdala, the thalamus, the cerebellum, the brain stem and the spinal cord. Alterations in hypothalamic nuclei are found in various endocrine diseases such as diabetes insipidus, Wolfram and Prader--Willi syndromes, and in various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson and Huntington diseases.