The hypothalamus is a small region of the brain that controls important physiological functions. It is divided into four regions - preoptic, supraoptic, tuberal, and mammillary. The hypothalamus regulates the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system through various nuclei that control body temperature, hunger, thirst, and hormone release from the pituitary gland. Though small in size, the hypothalamus has a disproportionately large influence on bodily processes and homeostasis.