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Adrenal gland: two glands involved in the body's stress response. These glands are located on top of the kidneys.
Endocrine system: the collection of organs and glands that help control how the body works by adjusting the amount and type hormones that are in the body... more
Gland: an organ that releases materials for use in certain places in the body or on the outside of the body... more
Homeostasis: the ability to keep a system at a constant condition.
Hormone: a chemical message released by cells into the body that affects other cells in the body.
Hypothalamus: a part of the brain that controls things like thirst, hunger, body temperature, and the release of many hormones.

The Brain

hypothalamus
All humans and many animals have a hypothalamus, found in the middle of the brain.

Sweat gets a bad reputation, even though it plays an important role in cooling down our bodies when we get too hot. But how, exactly, does your body know when to start sweating? It knows because a part of your brain, called the hypothalamus, tells it to. All humans and many animals have a hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus does many things, but two of its most important jobs are to maintain homeostasis and to control certain hormones. Homeostasis is very important to all animals, including humans. If we look at the word, we see that homeo means “the same”, and stasis means “not moving”, or “holding”. So homeostasis means that something is held at the same place.

Let’s think about homeostasis in terms of body temperature. Most animals maintain, or hold, their temperature at a certain level. For humans, this is about 98.6°F (37°C). When your hypothalamus senses that you’re too hot, it sends signals to your sweat glands to make you sweat and cool you off. When the hypothalamus senses that you’re too cold, it sends signals to your muscles that make your shiver and create warmth. This is called maintaining homeostasis. The hypothalamus also maintains homeostasis in lots of other ways, such as by controlling your blood pressure.

The temperature in your body, like the temperature in your home, is a balance between different cooling and heating systems.
The temperature in your body, like the temperature in your home, is a balance between different cooling and heating systems.

The hypothalamus also controls many of your hormones. It does this by being a sort of gatekeeper for other glands that release hormones. When your hypothalamus senses a change in your body, it will tell the right gland how to help correct that change.

For example, when you have too much homework and are stressed out, the hypothalamus will send a signal to your adrenal glands and they will release hormones that can help your body deal with the stress. For the stress response, this will result in the release of sugars, which will help to power you through your homework. The hypothalamus is also involved in the release of many other hormones that control everything from your blood pressure to how much you grow when you’re young. This makes the hypothalamus the main link between the brain and your hormonal, or endocrine, system.

Read more about: Singing in the Rain
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https://askabiologist.asu.edu/bird-hypothalamus

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: Hypothalamus
  • Author(s): Dr. Biology
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: 9 Jun, 2012
  • Date accessed:
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/bird-hypothalamus

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (Sat, 06/09/2012 - 11:13). Hypothalamus. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/bird-hypothalamus

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "Hypothalamus". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 09 Jun 2012. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/bird-hypothalamus

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "Hypothalamus". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 09 Jun 2012. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/bird-hypothalamus

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
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