Hypothalamus

What is Hypothalamus?

A region of the brain that monitors the temperature of the blood flowing through it and coordinates the responses that correct a deviation from the set point. It acts together with temperature receptors in the skin, which detect changes in the temperature of the surroundings.

This definition is part of the Coordination and Control chapter in Cambridge O Level Biology.

Concepts related to Hypothalamus

• temperature receptor
• Negative Feedback

Common mistakes with Hypothalamus

• Do not make the skin do the hypothalamus's job. Skin receptors detect the temperature of the environment at the surface, not the temperature of the core. If a question asks how the body detects that its own temperature has risen, the answer must include the hypothalamus monitoring the blood.