Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination01:23

Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination

The hypothalamus is a small yet highly complex and essential brain region that plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions. Anatomically, it is located at the base of the brain, just above the brainstem and below the thalamus, forming part of the limbic system.
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
Vision01:24

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions01:30

Diencephalon: Anatomical Regions

The diencephalon, etymologically translated as 'through brain,' plays an integral role as the conduit between the cerebrum and the vast extent of the nervous system. However, the olfactory system is an exception, as it interfaces directly with the cerebrum. The diencephalon, deeply ensconced beneath the cerebrum, primarily consists of three paired structures — the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithelamus. It also includes accessory structures such as the subthalamus, which houses the subthalamic...
Visual System01:26

Visual System

Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
The Pituitary Gland01:17

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary is a small endocrine organ in the sphenoid bone under the hypothalamus. Primarily, the pituitary in adults has two distinct anatomical and functional regions— the anterior and posterior lobes. During human fetal development, a third pituitary gland region called the pars intermedia atrophies and disappears. However, some of its cells migrate and exist adjacent to the anterior pituitary in adults.
Anatomy of the Eyeball01:20

Anatomy of the Eyeball

The eye is a spherical, hollow structure composed of three tissue layers. The outer layer — the fibrous tunic, comprises the sclera — a white structure — and the cornea, which is transparent. The sclera encompasses some of the ocular surface, most of which is not visible. However, the 'white of the eye' is distinctively visible in humans compared to other species. The cornea, a clear covering at the front of the eye, enables light penetration. The eye's middle layer, the vascular tunic,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Antifolates and MTHFR.

Therapeutic drug monitoring·2015
Same author

Post-traumatic stress disorder and vision.

Optometry (St. Louis, Mo.)·2010
Same author

Background and history of autism in relation to vision care.

Optometry (St. Louis, Mo.)·2008
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

The Gateway to the Brain: Dissecting the Primate Eye
07:37

The Gateway to the Brain: Dissecting the Primate Eye

Published on: May 27, 2009

Vision and the hypothalamus.

Joseph N Trachtman1

  • 1Elite Learning and Performance Center, PS, Seattle, Washington, USA. tracht@accommotrac.com

Optometry (St. Louis, Mo.)
|February 16, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The hypothalamus influences vision through neural pathways, impacting bodily processes and contributing to various eye disorders. Understanding these connections aids in diagnosing and potentially treating vision conditions by targeting hypothalamic function.

More Related Videos

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision
05:07

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Published on: June 13, 2019

Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation
09:29

Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation

Published on: August 4, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

The Gateway to the Brain: Dissecting the Primate Eye
07:37

The Gateway to the Brain: Dissecting the Primate Eye

Published on: May 27, 2009

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision
05:07

Using Looming Visual Stimuli to Evaluate Mouse Vision

Published on: June 13, 2019

Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation
09:29

Isolation of Targeted Hypothalamic Neurons for Studies of Hormonal, Metabolic, and Electrical Regulation

Published on: August 4, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Historical observations of hypothalamic-related vision disorders date back millennia.
  • Specific links between the hypothalamus and vision were established in the 1800s.
  • Elaboration of the autonomic nervous system in the 1900s revealed more pathways.

Observation:

  • The newly discovered retinohypothalamic tracts demonstrate light's effect on the hypothalamus and body.
  • The hypothalamus connects to glands (pituitary, pineal), uses chemical messengers (peptides, cytokines, neurotransmitters), and nitric oxide.
  • A feedback loop exists between the eye and hypothalamus via retinohypothalamic tracts and ciliary nerves.

Findings:

  • The hypothalamus is implicated in numerous degenerative diseases due to its extensive neural connections.
  • Hypothalamic-related vision disorders encompass neurological syndromes, lacrimal system issues, retinal problems, and ocular inflammation.
  • Detailed explanations of hypothalamic control over various pathways and chemicals are provided using tables and figures.

Implications:

  • Understanding hypothalamic functions offers clinicians deeper insight into vision system pathologies.
  • Future ocular disease treatments may involve direct manipulation of hypothalamic functions.
  • This research highlights the critical role of the hypothalamus in maintaining visual health and its involvement in disease.