Which of the following best describes the hypothalamus?
a. visceral control center of the body
b. somatic motor control center
c. gateway to the cerebellum
d. relay station for the special senses

A. visceral control center of the body

Explanation:

The hypothalamus corresponds to a small area in the Central Nervous System responsible for vital phenomena within the animal organism. Due to its importance, evolutionarily, it was protected by its location in the central part of the brain and protected by the skullcap. It commands the Endocrinological system. It exerts its direct action on the pituitary and indirect on other glands such as adrenal, gonads, thyroid, mammary and even on various organic tissues (muscle, bone, viscera. It acts on HYPOPHYSIS and interferes with the regulation of metabolism in general. It indirect influence: sleep/wake, hunger, blood pressure, the regulation of body heat production and loss, among others.