Hypothalamus Control of Pituitary — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptAs you know, the hypothalamus is the basal part of diencephalon, forebrain and it regulates a wide spectrum of body functions. It contains several groups of neurosecretory cells called nuclei which produce hormones. These hormones regulate the synthesis and secretion of pituitary hormones. However, the hormones produced by hypothalamus are of two types, the releasing hormones (which stimulate secretion of pituitary hormones) and the inhibiting hormones (which inhibit secretions of pituitary hormones). For example a hypothalamic hormone called Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates the pituitary synthesis and release of gonadotrophins. On the other hand, somatostatin from the hypothalamus inhibits the release of growth hormone from the pituitary. These hormones originating in the hypothalamic neurons, pass through axons and are released from their nerve endings. These hormones reach the pituitary gland through a portal circulatory system and regulate the functions of the anterior pituitary. The posterior pituitary is under the direct neural regulation of the hypothalamus.
Which of the following statements regarding the regulation of pituitary gland are correct? S1: Hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones are transported through a portal circulatory system to regulate the anterior pituitary. S2: Oxytocin and vasopressin are synthesized by neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus. S3: The posterior pituitary synthesizes its own hormones, which are then stored and released upon hypothalamic stimulation. S4: Direct neural regulation from the hypothalamus controls the secretion of hormones from the pars distalis. S5: Gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus directly stimulates the release of gonadotrophins from the posterior pituitary.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: A — S1 and S2 only
The regulation of the pituitary gland involves distinct mechanisms for its anterior and posterior parts. S1: Hypothalamic hormones (releasing and inhibiting) are indeed transported through a portal circulatory system to reach and regulate the anterior pituitary (pars distalis). This statement is correct. S2: Oxytocin and vasopressin are synthesized by the hypothalamus and subsequently transported axonally to the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) for storage and release. This statement is correct. S3: The posterior pituitary itself does not synthesize hormones; it only stores and releases oxytocin and vasopressin, which are synthesized by the hypothalamus. This statement is incorrect. S4: Direct neural regulation from the hypothalamus controls the posterior pituitary, not the pars distalis (anterior pituitary). The anterior pituitary is regulated by hypothalamic hormones via the portal system. This statement is incorrect. S5: GnRH stimulates the synthesis and release of gonadotrophins from the anterior pituitary, not the posterior pituitary. This statement is incorrect. Therefore, only S1 and S2 are correct.
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