hypothalamus

Etymology

hypo- + thalamus

noun

1. (anatomy) 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. 2019, Bill Bryson, The Body: A Guide for Occupants, Black Swan (2020), page 217