L6 - Hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex

• What is the link between the nervous and endocrine systems?

  Hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex
• What are the two main components of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal complex?

  Hypothalamus and pituitary gland
• Why is the pituitary gland referred to as the "master gland"?

  It regulates other endocrine glands
• What are the two lobes of the pituitary gland?

  Anterior and posterior lobes
• What is the infundibulum?

  Funnel-shaped connection of hypothalamus and pituitary
• What is the pituitary gland's embryonic origin?

  Composite structure from different origins
• What is the adenohypophysis?

  Anterior pituitary derived from ectoderm
• What is the neurohypophysis?

  Posterior pituitary and infundibulum
• What are the two connections between the hypothalamus and pituitary lobes?

  Neurosecretory tract and portal system
• What is the function of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal neurosecretory tract?

  Connects hypothalamus and posterior pituitary
• What hormones are stored and released by the posterior pituitary?

  Antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin
• What is the role of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)?

  Regulates water reabsorption in kidneys
• How does alcohol affect antidiuretic hormone (ADH)?

  Inhibits its secretion
• What is the function of oxytocin?

  Stimulates uterine contractions and milk let-down
• What triggers the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)?

  Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
• What does adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulate?

  Cortisol secretion from adrenal cortex
• What are gonadotropins and their functions?

  Stimulate gametogenesis and steroidogenesis
• What is the role of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in females?

  Promotes maturation of egg-containing follicles
• What does luteinizing hormone (LH) trigger in females?

  Ovulation
• What is the function of growth hormone (GH)?

  Regulates growth and metabolism in tissues
• What inhibits the secretion of growth hormone (GH)?

  Growth-hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH)
• What does prolactin (PRL) stimulate?

  Milk synthesis in mammary glands
• What inhibits prolactin (PRL) secretion?

  Prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH/dopamine)
• What are the structural and functional relationships between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland?

  • Hypothalamus links nervous and endocrine systems
  • Anterior pituitary produces hormones in response to hypothalamus
  • Posterior pituitary stores hormones synthesized by hypothalamus
  • Infundibulum connects both structures
• What hormones are released from the posterior pituitary and their functions?

  • Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
  • Regulates water reabsorption
  • Inhibited by alcohol
  • Oxytocin
  • Stimulates uterine contractions
  • Promotes milk let-down
• What are the chief effects of anterior pituitary hormones?

  • TSH: Stimulates thyroid hormone secretion
  • ACTH: Stimulates cortisol secretion
  • FSH: Promotes gametogenesis
  • LH: Stimulates ovulation
  • GH: Regulates growth and metabolism
  • PRL: Stimulates milk synthesis
• True or False: The posterior pituitary originates from neural tissue?

  True
• True or False: The anterior pituitary does not synthesize its own hormones?

  True
• True or False: A portal vein allows for the transfer of tropic hormones?

  True
• True or False: Antidiuretic hormone is released from the anterior pituitary?

  False
• True or False: Prolactin helps with milk let-down in lactating women?

  True