Epithalamus

Definition

The epithalamus is a dorsal posterior segment of the diencephalon in the brain, which includes important structures such as the pineal gland. It plays a role in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles, hormonal secretions, and stress responses.

Related terms

Pineal Gland:

A small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain that produces melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns.

Diencephalon:

A division of the brain located between the cerebral hemispheres and above the midbrain, comprising structures such as the thalamus, hypothalamus, and epithalamus.

Circadian Rhythms: Biological processes that display an endogenous, entrainable oscillation of about 24 hours, primarily influenced by light-dark cycles in an organism's environment