Hormones

Growth Hormone

• GH

• Source: Anterior pituitary

• Target: Most body tissues

• Function: Stimulates growth, metabolism

Prolactin

• PRL

• Source: Anterior pituitary

• Target: Mammary glands

• Function: Milk production

Thyroid Stimulating hormone

• TSH

• Source: Anterior pituitary

• Target: Thyroid gland

• Function: Stimulates thyroid hormone release (T3/T4)

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

• ACTH

• Source: Anterior pituitary

• Target: Adrenal cortex

Function: Stimulates cortisol release

Luteinizing Hormone

LH
source: anterior pituitary

target: gonads

function: stimulates sex hormone release

Follicle-stimulating Hormone

ACTH

source: anterior pituitary

target: gonads-ovaries/testes

function: stimulates gamete (egg/sperm) production

Antidiuretic hormone

ADH

source: posterior pituitary

target: kidneys

function: water reabsorption > raises BP

Oxytocin

Source: posterior pituitary

target: uterus, mammary glands

function: uterine contractions, milk ejection

Thyroxine & Triiodothyronine

T2 & T3

source: Thyroid gland (follicular cells)

target: Most body cells

function: increase metabolism

Calcitonin

Source: Thyroid gland

target: bone

function: lowers blood calcium

Parathyroid hormone

PTH

source: parathyroid gland

target: bones, kidneys, and intestines

function: raises blood calcium

Epinephrine & Norepinephrine

source: adrenal medulla

target: various tissues

function: fight or flight response/ related to stress levels

Aldosterone

source: adrenal cortex (zona glomerulosa)

target: kidneys

function: sodium retention > raises BP

Cortisol

Source: Adrenal cortex (zona fasciculata)

Target: most body tissues

Function: stress response and raises blood glucose/affects glucose metabolism

Insulin

Source: pancreas

target: most body cells

function: lowers blood glucose

Glucagon

source: pancreas (alpha cells)

target: liver, adipose

function: raises blood glucose

Erythropoietin

EPO

source: kidneys

target: red bone marrow

function: stimulates RBC production

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone

TRH-

source: hypothalamus

target: anterior pituitary gland

function: Stimulates the anterior pituitary

corticotropin-releasing hormone

CRH

source: hypothalamus 

target: anterior pituitary

function: stimulates release of ACTH