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下丘脑 (xià qiū nǎo) — hypothalamus

Definition

The hypothalamus is a small region at the base of the brain that regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and hormones. It sits below the thalamus (丘脑), whose name literally means 'hill-brain'.

noun
hypothalamus

Examples

  • 下丘脑。
    xià qiū nǎo Shì dà nǎo de yí bù fen.
    The hypothalamus is part of the brain.
  • 下丘脑。
    Yī shēng zhèng zài yán jiū xià qiū nǎo de gōng néng.
    The doctor is studying the function of the hypothalamus.
  • 下丘脑。
    xià qiū nǎo Kòng zhì tǐ wēn hé shí yù.
    The hypothalamus controls body temperature and appetite.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

下xiàlower
丘脑thalamus
丘qiūhillock脑nǎobrain
偏正Modifier + head

下 marks the lower position relative to 丘脑, a brain part named after 丘.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The shape comes from an old drawing of a hill, showing a mound or hillock.

Open 丘 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 腦; 脑 is its simplified writing.

  • 匕匕bǐ
  • 巛巛chuānhair
  • 囟囟xìnhead; fontanel

In the traditional form 腦, the older part 匕 was replaced by a flesh part, while 巛 (hair) and 囟 (head; fontanel) stayed. The simplified 脑 is a later abbreviation.

Open 脑 →
Appears in
Organs & Anatomy

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