hypothalamus

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Ancient Greek ῠ̔πό (hŭpó) Ancient Greek ὑπο- (hupo-)der. English hypo- English thalamus English hypothalamus From hypo- + thalamus.

1. A region of the forebrain located below the thalamus, forming the basal portion of the diencephalon, and functioning to regulate body temperature, some metabolic processes and governing the autonomic nervous system.

   “To avoid catastrophe, the brain has its trusty control centre, the hypothalamus, which tells the body to cool itself by sweating or to warm itself by shivering.”