Hypothalamus-to-Target Hormone Flow Chart

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering hypothalamic signaling, pituitary hormone outputs, target organs, functions, and feedback control mechanisms.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone

A hypothalamic signal that stimulates the anterior pituitary to release thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

An anterior-pituitary hormone that promotes normal thyroid growth, development, and secretory activity.

Triiodothyronine and thyroxine

Thyroid gland hormones activated by thyroid-stimulating hormone that raise oxygen and energy use, adenosine triphosphate production, heat, and metabolic rate in almost every cell.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone

A hypothalamic signal that stimulates the anterior pituitary in a daily rhythm.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

An anterior-pituitary hormone that stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoids

Hormones produced by the adrenal cortex (especially cortisol, corticosterone, and cortisone) that make energy available by promoting gluconeogenesis and glycogen formation, releasing amino acids and lipids, and producing anti-inflammatory effects.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

A hypothalamic signal that stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete gonadotropins, such as follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.

Follicle-stimulating hormone

An anterior-pituitary gonadotropin that regulates ovarian-follicle development in females and promotes sperm development in males.

Luteinizing hormone

An anterior-pituitary gonadotropin that induces ovulation and progesterone secretion in females, and stimulates androgen production (including testosterone) in males.

Prolactin-releasing hormone

A hypothalamic hormone that stimulates anterior-pituitary prolactin secretion, controlled reciprocally alongside prolactin-inhibiting hormone.

Prolactin-inhibiting hormone

A hypothalamic hormone that inhibits anterior-pituitary prolactin secretion, controlled reciprocally alongside prolactin-releasing hormone.

Prolactin

An anterior-pituitary hormone that acts directly on mammary glands to stimulate development and milk production without a second endocrine gland.

Growth hormone-releasing hormone

A hypothalamic signal that stimulates growth hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary, balanced by growth hormone-inhibiting hormone.

Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone

A hypothalamic signal that inhibits growth hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary, balanced by growth hormone-releasing hormone.

Growth hormone

An anterior-pituitary hormone that acts on epithelia, connective tissues, adipose tissue, and liver to support stem-cell division, protein synthesis, body size, childhood development, and fuel use.

Somatomedins

Hormone outputs released by the liver when stimulated by growth hormone; they act on long bones, skeletal muscle, and most cells to promote tissue growth.

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone

An anterior-pituitary hormone that acts directly on melanocytes in skin and hair to stimulate melanin production.

Supra-optic nucleus

A hypothalamic nucleus triggered by osmoreceptors to synthesize antidiuretic hormone.

Antidiuretic hormone

A hormone produced in the supra-optic nucleus of the hypothalamus and stored/released by the posterior pituitary to cause water retention in the kidneys.

Paraventricular nucleus

A hypothalamic nucleus triggered by sensory stimulation to synthesize oxytocin.

Oxytocin

A hormone produced in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and stored/released by the posterior pituitary, stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection in females and ductus deferens and prostate contraction in males.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine

Hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla (about $80\%$ epinephrine and $20\%$ norepinephrine) under direct hypothalamic sympathetic control during a fight-or-flight response.