Medial hypothalamic zone

The medial hypothalamic zone lies between the periventricular and lateral zones and contains several major hypothalamic nuclei, including the ventromedial, dorsomedial, and arcuate nuclei.

This region plays a central role in energy balance, reproductive behavior, temperature regulation, and autonomic control.

The ventromedial nucleus functions as the satiety center, inhibiting feeding behavior when activated, whereas the dorsomedial nucleus contributes to stress and feeding responses. The medial hypothalamic zone integrates neural and hormonal signals from the limbic system, brainstem, and circulating hormones, generating coordinated endocrine, autonomic, and behavioral outputs essential for homeostasis.