US Medical Term · anatomy
Hypothalamus
Hipotálamo
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Hypothalamus |
| Spanish (Español) | Hipotálamo |
| Chinese (中文) | 下丘腦 |
| Korean (한국어) | 시상하부 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Vùng dưới đồi |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Hypothalamus |
| Portuguese (Português) | Hipotálamo |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ไฮโปทาลามัส |
| Japanese (日本語) | 視床下部 |
What it means
The hypothalamus is a small but vital region of the brain located just above the brainstem and below the thalamus. It acts as the body's main control center for maintaining balance and stability, a process called homeostasis. The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep cycles, heart rate, blood pressure, and the release of hormones from the pituitary gland. It links your nervous system to your endocrine (hormone) system. When your body gets too hot, the hypothalamus triggers sweating. When blood sugar drops, it signals hunger. Damage to the hypothalamus can cause problems with temperature regulation, abnormal hunger or thirst, or hormone disorders.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My doctor thinks my hypothalamus is not sending the right signals to control my body temperature.
Mi doctor cree que mi hipotálamo no envía las señales correctas para controlar mi temperatura corporal.
Could a problem with my hypothalamus explain why I am always so thirsty?
¿Podría un problema con mi hipotálamo explicar por qué siempre tengo tanta sed?
The scan showed a lesion in my hypothalamus.
El estudio mostró una lesión en mi hipotálamo.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026