Thymus & Hypothalamus
Joan Daly and Antony Sare
HAP Period 5
Overview of the Endocrine System
• Instrumental in regulating:
– Mood
– Growth and development
– Tissue function
– Metabolism
– Sexual function and reproduction
• In charge of slow body processes, like cell
growth
Specific Glands
Thymus
Hypothalamus
Location of Glands
• Thymus  right next to the heart
• Hypothalamus  above the brain stem
Role & Function: Thymus
• Controls immune
mechanism
• Promotes maturation
of B-cells and T-cells
• Becomes inactive
later in life, leading to
atrophy
• Atrophy is why older
people contract more
diseases
Role & Function: Hypothalamus
• Maintains homeostasis
• Contains specialized nuclei to maintain basic
psychological functions
– Body temperature
– Blood pressure
– Fluid and
electrolyte
balance
– Digestion
• Main cause of
involuntary
emotional choices
Hormones
• Hypothalamus secretes dopamine
• Thymus secretes thymosin &
thymopoietin
thymosin
thymopoietin
dopamine
Dopamine
• Hormone
produced in the
hypothalamus,
also considered
to be a neurotransmitter
• Affects diverse processes like muscle
movement, thinking, emotion, motivation and
pleasure
• Fun fact: people with Parkinson’s disease have
depleted levels of dopamine
Thymosin
• Hormone that plays an important role in
regulating the immune system
• Found in the thymus gland
• Two types:
– Alpha: play a role in dna transcription
– Beta: operate in the cellular cytoplasm and
contribute to cell mobility
• Together they function to detect the
presence of autoimmune diseases and
affect how T cells (germ-killing white blood
cells) function
Thymopoeitin
• Also released by the thymus
• Reside in cell nucleus and help out by
maintaining the structural organization of
the nuclear envelope
• Also regulates the localization of
chromosomes in the nuclear membrane
• Mutations in thymopoietin result in
cardiomyopathy
Myasthenia Gravis
• A type of auto immune
disorder (immune system
mistakenly attacks healthy
tissue)
• Body produces antibodies
that block the muscle cells
from receiving messages
(nerve impulses)
• Associated with tumors of
the thymus
• Symptoms: difficult
breathing, chewing, climbing
stairs, talking… facial paralysis, fatigue, double vision
Hypothalamic Disease
• Caused by excessive dietary
intake of iron, malnutrition,
trauma, or tumors
• Symptoms: headaches and
vision problems, can increase
hypothyroidism problems
(affects the hormone
production of pituitary and
thyroid glands), altered body
temperature, inability to
control urination, excessive
thirst, obesity and emotional disturbance
– All depends on the severity of the disease
Fun Facts
Works Cited
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"The Endocrine System." A New Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.anewlife.co.uk/hormones_endocrine_glands.html>.
"Endocrine System." Teens Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
<http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/body_basics/endocrine.html>.
Hormones of the Hypothalamus. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
<http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/H/Hypothalamus.html>.
"Hypothalamus." You & Your Hormones. N.p., Mar. 2011. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.yourhormones.info/glands/hypothalamus.aspx>.
McClure, Susan T. "Is dopamine a natural hormone in the body?" Livestrong. N.p., n.d.
Web. 10 Mar. 2013. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/212467-is-dopamine-a-naturalhormone-in-the-body/>.
"Myasthenia gravis." PubMed Health. N.p., 18 June 2011. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001731>.
"The Role of the Hypothalamus." Phoenix Children's Hospital. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar.
2013. <http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/medical-specialties/barrow-neurologicalinstitute/programs-services/hypothalamic-hamartoma-center/role-ofhypothalamus.html>.
Shmaefsky, Brian R. Applied Anatomy & Physiology. Comp. Jerri Adler et al. Montreal:
Paradigm Publishing, Inc., 2007. Print.
"What Is a Thymosin?" WiseGeek. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.
<http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-thymosin.htm>.
Concept Check
• 1. Describe the main function for the
thymus and hypothalamus, and state
where each is located.
• 2. State the bodily processes dopamine
regulates.
• 3. Explain the difference between to the
two types of thymosin, and what
thymosin does.
• 4. What is myasthenia gravis and how
does it affect the body?