The hypothalamus is an almond-sized region of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system. The hypothalamus produces and secretes neurohormones or "releasing hormones" that stimulate or inhibit the secretion of the pituitary hormones.
Related to thyroid function, the hypothalamus produces thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which stimulates the release of TSH and the hormone prolactin from the pituitary.
