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what is the role of the hypothalamus
it plays both nervous and endocrine system roles and acts as the connection between the 2.
it regulates basic functions of the body such as body temp, water balance, and heart rate, as well as increasing/decreasing the secretions of other glands
where is the hypothalamus located
at the base of the brain, below the thalamus and above the pituitary gland.
what hypothalamus functions are carried out through the pituitary gland?
the hypothalamus secrets releasing or inhibiting factors which stimulate or slow the secretion of hormones. these travel via the blood to the anterior pituitary gland effecting its secretion of hormones.
other hormones are produced by the hypothalamus and pass along nerve fibres to the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland where they are released.
where is the location of the pituitary (include structural details)
lies just under the hypothalamus and is joined to it by the infundibulum. (~13mm in diameter). it consists of 2 lobes, the anterior and posterior.
the anterior lobe has no nerves connecting it to the hypothalamus. they are connecting together via blood vessles in the infundibulum.
the posterior lobe is joined to the hypothalamus via nerve fibres from the hypothalamus.
is the posterior an endocrine gland?
no, as it does not create its own hormones, it simply stores and releases the hormones from the hypothalamus.
what hormones are secreted from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland?
gonadotropins such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and prolactin (PRL)
how are the hormones held in the posterior pituitary made
they are produced in the special nerve cells in the hypothalamus of the brain. these cells have long extensions that pass through the infundibulum to the posterior lobe.
the release of these hormones is triggered by nerve impulses initiated in the hypothalamus.
what hormones does the posterior pituitary lobe secrete
oxytocin (OT), and Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) also known as vasopressin
how do releasing factors reach their target cell, and what are the target cells for releasing factors
they travel via the blood, and their target cells are the adrenal glands, thyroid, and gonads.
what are the similarities and differences of the anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland
similarities include location, involvement in hormone secretion, and both are controlled by the hypothalamus.
differences include structure (anterior consists of ganglia tissue, posterior consists of neural tissue), the anterior produces its own hormones whereas the posterior stores and secretes hypothalamus hormones, and function (anterior is mainly involved in metabolism, regulating growth, and the function of other glands. posterior is mostly involved in water balance and uterine contractions
list the gonadotropins secreted by the anterior lobe and state why they are classified as gonadotropins
follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone. they are classified as gonadotropins because they effect the ovaries and testes
what would happen if the infundibulum was severed?
If the infundibulum were severed, it would disrupt the communication between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, leading to significant hormonal imbalances and physiological consequences.
