hypothalamus

noun

hy·​po·​thal·​a·​mus ˌhī-pō-ˈtha-lə-məs How to pronounce hypothalamus (audio)
: 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 And also the hypothalamus is like a tiny old structure that is involved with the hormonal shifts during these periods. Quanta Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 The hypothalamus experienced the highest transduction efficiency and the hippocampus the least. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 In the longer term, the hypothalamus takes cues from an appetite-suppressant called leptin. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2023 The hypothalamus works to regulate the autonomic nervous system, a system that coordinates involuntary responses such as heart rate, blood pressure and respiration. Seena Mathew, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023 Nicknamed the master switchboard, the hypothalamus works in the background making sure our bodies are in the best condition possible. Popular Science, 26 Oct. 2023 Other drugs, Schroeder says, work by blocking certain receptors in your hypothalamus thought to aggravate hot flashes. Ashley Abramson, Allure, 1 Dec. 2023 In the recent work, researchers have mapped the cell subtypes in the hypothalamus based on. Popular Science, 26 Oct. 2023 Hot flashes are believed to be set off by the hypothalamus – a part of the brain that functions as the body’s thermostat – in reaction to declining estrogen levels in the body, says Dr. Reich. Alexis Benveniste, Allure, 26 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypothalamus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypothalamus was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near hypothalamus

Cite this Entry

“Hypothalamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothalamus. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hypothalamus

noun
hy·​po·​thal·​a·​mus ˌhī-pō-ˈthal-ə-məs How to pronounce hypothalamus (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce hypothalamus (audio)
plural hypothalami -ˌmī How to pronounce hypothalamus (audio)
: 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)

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