The partnership

• The hypothalamus and pituitary gland forms a partnership. It is the most important point of interaction between the nervous and endocrine systems.
• Hypothalamus: interprets nerve impulses and converts them into chemical messages that regulate the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland
• Both the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are located in the brain and are connected by a thin stalk, called the infundibulum .
• The hypothalamus is a small, compact area of tissue within the brain that consists of clusters of neurones and blood vessels. These serve a variety of functions that assist in maintaining homeostasis.
• Function of the hypothalamus: Regulation of the pituitary gland:

  • Secretes releasing or inhibiting factors that pass through the infundibulum and into the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland
  • Stimulating or inhibiting the releasing of appropriate hormones
• Function of the hypothalamus: Production of hormones:

  • Oxytocin and anti-diuretic hormones are produced and pass into the posterior lobe of the pituitary for storage until required
• Function of the hypothalamus: Other functions include:

  • Regulation of temperature, thirst and water balance
  • Regulation of food intake and sleep-wake cycles
  • Regulation of the autonomic nervous system
  • Regulation of emotions and sexual behaviour
• The pituitary gland controls the activities of most of the other endocrine glands. Comprised of two lobes - the anterior and posterior.
• ANTERIOR LOBE responds to factors released from the hypothalamus and produces a variety of hormones.
• Hormones produced in the anterior pituitary gland include: Growth hormone (GH), Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinising hormone (LH), Prolactin
• POSTERIOR LOBE stores the following hormones: Anti-diuretic hormone and Oxytocin
• The partnership is also called the HPA axis - hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis