The nervous system also contains your pituitary gland, which produces and releases hormones in your body, helping your body grow. This gland also keeps your metabolism going. Your metabolism regulates everything that goes on inside your body, like breathing and circulating your blood. Your hypothalamus is also part of your nervous system. It acts like a thermostat inside your body. If your body gets too hot, the hypothalamus tells it to sweat. If your body is too cold, it makes you shiver. The hypothalamus’ job is to get your body temperature where it needs to be.