Hypothalamus Control

Both the anterior and posterior pituitary release hormones, with a stimulation from the hypothalamus. The anterior pituitary releases them through a blood stimulus, whilst the posterior works through a neural stimulus.

Anterior pituitary

Its origins are from the mouth/throat. It is connected by blood supply to the hypothalamus, which releases hormones into the blood that stimulate pituitary release.

Anterior hormones

It produces the following hormones:

• growth hormone
• prolactin
• follicle stimulating hormone
• luteinizing hormone
• thyroid stimulating hormone
• adrenocortitrophic hormone

Posterior pituitary

Its origins are a downgrowth from the brain. It is linked by neurons to the hypothalamus, which produces hormones and releases them, through the axons of the linking neurons, in the posterior pituitar.

Posterior hormones

• oxytocin
• antidiuretic hormone