part of hypothalamus preoptic area BTO:0001796 BrendaTissueOBO The most anterior part of the hypothalamus, lying adjacent to the lamina terminalis and superior to the optic chiasm, and comprising the lateral and medial preoptic nuclei, the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei; and the anterior hypothalamic nucleus. anterior hypothalamic area anterior hypothalamic region area hypothalamica rostralis preoptic hypothalamic area preoptic hypothalamic region preoptic region preoptico-hypothalamic area preoptico-hypothalamic region regio hypothalamica anterior