Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for regulating appetite?

1. Hypothalamus

2. Cerebellum

3. Cerebral cortex

4. Medulla oblongata

The correct answer is: Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is the part of the brain that plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and energy balance. It serves as a central hub for various signals related to hunger and satiety, integrating inputs from the body and endocrine system to modulate food intake. The hypothalamus contains specialized neurons that respond to hormones such as ghrelin (which stimulates appetite) and leptin (which signals satiety). This area helps maintain homeostasis by influencing behaviors associated with eating and energy expenditure. In contrast, the cerebellum is primarily involved in coordinating voluntary movements and balance, the cerebral cortex processes higher-level functions like thought and decision-making rather than directly controlling appetite, and the medulla oblongata oversees autonomic functions such as heart rate and breathing, but does not specifically regulate hunger. Therefore, the hypothalamus stands out as the key brain region responsible for appetite regulation.