Hypothalamus: nuclei (English)

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 hypothalamic nuclei. These nuclei establish a number of connections (tracts) with different regions of the central nervous system. The hypothalamus mainly receives input (afferent fibers) from the limbic system, as well as from sensory and motor nuclei from the brainstem and spinal cord. The efferent fibers of the hypothalamus are mainly directed to the thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, brainstem and spinal cord. Through its connections, the hypothalamus controls the functions of the limbic, endocrine and autonomic nervous systems.