hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus is a part of the Limbic system that directs a multitude of important functions in the body. It is roughly a size of a pearl, located just behind and between the eyes, below the thalamus and just above the brainstem. All vertebrates’ brain contains a hypothalamus, and it is highly interconnected with other parts of central nervous system. It links the nervous system to the endocrine system through the pituitary gland. This area of the brain is small, but involved in many necessary processes of the body including behavioral, autonomic, and endocrine functions. The hypothalamus uses a set-point to regulate the body's systems including electrolyte and fluid balance, body temperature, blood pressure, and body weight. It is also involved in several other functions of the body including homeostasis, motor function control, food and water intake regulation, and sleep-wake cycle regulation.
The hypothalamus' primary function is homeostasis, which is to maintain the body's status quo throughout every body system. The hypothalamus secretes two hormones, ADH and oxytoxin, which are stored in the posterior pituitary gland. It maintains homeostasis by controlling the secretion of hormones in the pituitary gland. In females, the hypothalamus maintains cycles of reproductive readiness, and the hypothalamic neurons produces reproductive hormones. Sexual behavior is affected by the hypothalamus; it stimulates the pituitary gland to release sex hormones. The hypothalamus also keeps track of how long we have been awake and how large our sleep debt is. Several areas in the hypothalamus promote wakefulness by sending arousal signals to the cerebral cortex, and these signals come in the form of chemicals called neurotransmitters. Another area of the hypothalamus is responsible for shutting down the brain’s arousal signals, making it possible for us to sleep. The hypothalamus also acts as a receptor in regulating body temperature, by detecting fluctuations in