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The preoptic area is a region of the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland ....
. According to the MeSH
Mesh

Mesh consists of semi-permeable barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material. Mesh is similar to spider web or Net in that it has many attached or woven strands....
 classification, it is considered part of the anterior hypothalamus.

preoptic area is responsible for thermoregulation
Thermoregulation

Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its core temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different....
 and receives nervous stimulation from thermoreceptors in the skin, mucous membrane
Mucous membrane

The mucous membranes are linings of mostly germ layer origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organ ....
s and hypothalamus itself.

This area propagates stimuli to either the heat-losing or heat-promoting centres of the hypothalamus.

e are four nuclei
Nucleus (neuroanatomy)

In neuroanatomy, a nucleus is a brain structure consisting of a relatively compact cluster of neurons. It is one of the two most common forms of nerve cell organization, the other being layered structures such as the cerebral cortex or cerebellum....
 in this region, according to Terminologia Anatomica
Terminologia Anatomica

Terminologia Anatomica is the international standard on human anatomical terminology. It was developed by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology and the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists and was released in 1998....
:









al preoptic nucleus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone , also known as Luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone , is a tropic hormone peptide hormone responsible for the release of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary....
.

median preoptic nucleus generates thirst
Thirst

Thirst is the craving for liquids, resulting in the basic instinct of humans or animals to drink. It is an essential mechanism involved in fluid balance....
.






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Encyclopedia


The preoptic area is a region of the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland ....
. According to the MeSH
Mesh

Mesh consists of semi-permeable barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material. Mesh is similar to spider web or Net in that it has many attached or woven strands....
 classification, it is considered part of the anterior hypothalamus.

Functions

The preoptic area is responsible for thermoregulation
Thermoregulation

Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its core temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different....
 and receives nervous stimulation from thermoreceptors in the skin, mucous membrane
Mucous membrane

The mucous membranes are linings of mostly germ layer origin, covered in epithelium, which are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organ ....
s and hypothalamus itself.

This area propagates stimuli to either the heat-losing or heat-promoting centres of the hypothalamus.

Nuclei

There are four nuclei
Nucleus (neuroanatomy)

In neuroanatomy, a nucleus is a brain structure consisting of a relatively compact cluster of neurons. It is one of the two most common forms of nerve cell organization, the other being layered structures such as the cerebral cortex or cerebellum....
 in this region, according to Terminologia Anatomica
Terminologia Anatomica

Terminologia Anatomica is the international standard on human anatomical terminology. It was developed by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology and the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists and was released in 1998....
:

  • nucleus preopticus lateralis (lateral preoptic nucleus)


  • nucleus preopticus medialis (medial preoptic nucleus)


  • nucleus preopticus medianus (median preoptic nucleus)


  • nucleus preopticus periventricularis (periventricular preoptic nucleus)


Medial preoptic nucleus

Medial preoptic nucleus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone , also known as Luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone , is a tropic hormone peptide hormone responsible for the release of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary....
.

Median preoptic nucleus

The median preoptic nucleus generates thirst
Thirst

Thirst is the craving for liquids, resulting in the basic instinct of humans or animals to drink. It is an essential mechanism involved in fluid balance....
. Drinking decreases noradrenaline release in the median preoptic nucleus

Aging

Studies in female mice have shown that estrogen receptor-alpha declines in the pre-optic hypothalamus
Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions. One of the most important functions of the hypothalamus is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland ....
 as they grow old. The female mice that were given a calorically restricted diet during the majority of their lives, maintained higher levels of ERa in the pre-optic hypothalamus than their non-calorically restricted counterparts.

See also

  • Ventrolateral preoptic nucleus
    Ventrolateral preoptic nucleus

    The ventrolateral preoptic nucleus is a group of neurons in the hypothalamus. They are primarily active during Non-rapid eye movement sleep, and inhibit other neurons that are involved in wakefulness....