This Chapter is aimed to provide a general overview of the hypothalamus and its functions. The main features of hypothalamic functional neuroanatomy will be addressed. This will lay the ground to discuss the role of hypothalamic neural pathways in different body functions, such as the regulation of wake-sleep behavior, body temperature, body fluid osmolarity, energy balance, and the cardiovascular system. In this picture, the role of hypothalamic hypocretin neurons in orchestrating behavioral and autonomic responses to environmental challenges will stand out. Knowledge of such integrative physiologic role of hypocretin neurons is a prerequisite to understand the pathophysiology of patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy, in whom hypocretin neurons are functionally lost.
Zoccoli G, Amici R, Silvani A. (2011). The hypothalamus and its functions. NEW YORK : Springer [10.1007/978-1-4419-8390-9].
The hypothalamus and its functions
ZOCCOLI, GIOVANNA;AMICI, ROBERTO;SILVANI, ALESSANDRO
2011
Abstract
This Chapter is aimed to provide a general overview of the hypothalamus and its functions. The main features of hypothalamic functional neuroanatomy will be addressed. This will lay the ground to discuss the role of hypothalamic neural pathways in different body functions, such as the regulation of wake-sleep behavior, body temperature, body fluid osmolarity, energy balance, and the cardiovascular system. In this picture, the role of hypothalamic hypocretin neurons in orchestrating behavioral and autonomic responses to environmental challenges will stand out. Knowledge of such integrative physiologic role of hypocretin neurons is a prerequisite to understand the pathophysiology of patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy, in whom hypocretin neurons are functionally lost.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
