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Orexin System

Meaning

The Orexin System, also known as the Hypocretin System, is a critical neuropeptide signaling pathway originating from a small cluster of neurons in the lateral hypothalamus of the brain. This system is fundamentally responsible for regulating and stabilizing the state of wakefulness, energy balance, and appetite, integrating signals related to circadian rhythm and metabolic status. Orexin peptides, Orexin A and Orexin B, are excitatory neurotransmitters whose deficiency is strongly linked to the neurological disorder narcolepsy, characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. The system plays a key, interconnected role in the neuroendocrine control of energy homeostasis and alertness.