Hypothalamus: nuclei (Latin)

The midsagittal view of the diencephalon with nuclei and tracts of the hypothalamus. The bodies of hypothalamic neurons are organized in specialized gray matter structures called nuclei hypothalami. These nuclei establish a number of connections (tracts) with different regions of the systema nervosum centrale. The hypothalamus mainly receives input (afferent fibers) from the systema limbicus, as well as from sensory and motor nuclei from the truncus encephali and medulla spinalis. The efferent fibers of the hypothalamus are mainly directed to the thalamus, hippocampus, corpus amygdaloideum, truncus encephali and medulla spinalis. Through its connections, the hypothalamus controls the functions of the limbic, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems.