Is the Hypothalamus part of the Central Nervous System or Endocrine System Sorry for a certainly naive question. Some references (for example < seem to to indicate that the hypothalamus is part of the Central Nervous System. Others (for example < place it in the Endrocrine System. I would have said it is part of both, but then I read the two systems are distinct. Could anyone explain me to which one it belongs and why? Thanks, Gilles

CNS refers to the brain and spinal cord. Its a very general term. Hypothalamus is part of the CNS structure but its unique in a sense that it secretes many chemicals into the bloodstream like glands hence part of the endocrine system! so they are both correct!