- Lateral hypothalamus
Infobox Brain
Name = Lateral hypothalamus
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Caption = Lateral hypothalamus is 'LT', at right, in yellow.
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BrainInfoType = hier
BrainInfoNumber = 409
MeshName = Lateral+Hypothalamic+Area
MeshNumber = A08.186.211.730.385.357.300
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The Lateral hypothalamus or lateral hypothalamic area is a part of thehypothalamus .It is concerned with
hunger . Damage to this can cause reduced food intake.Function
The
glucostatic explanation is based on the homeostatic theory which indicates that the body has balanced states of equilibrium for each system. When out of balance, the body will be pushed to restore balance. Therefore, when the blood sugar level drops, the glucostatic receptors in the blood take a message to the lateral hypothalamus, which is the feeding center of thebrain . This causes certainneurons in the brain to fire in unison, creating the sensation of hunger. Now the person wants to eat.When the
glucose level increases because the person is eating or has eaten, the glucostatic receptors in the blood then send a message to theVentro-medial Hypothalamus (the satiety or satisfaction center) and the sensation of fullness occurs.Damage to the lateral hypothalamus may lead to a condition known as
Frölich's syndrome .Lateral zone of hypothalamus
The "lateral zone of hypothalamus" is a similarly named compound structure, consisting of the following two structures: [BrainInfo|ancil|316]
* lateral hypothalamic area
* lateralpreoptic nucleus preoptic nuclei as well as the supraoptic and tuberal nuclei and the nuclei of the mammillary body
References
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