Promotes milk production from mammary glands The pituitary gland consists of an anterior and posterior lobe, with each lobe secreting different hormones in response to signals from the hypothalamus. It connects to the pituitary gland by the stalk-like infundibulum. Hypothalamus–Pituitary Complex The hypothalamus region lies inferior and anterior to the thalamus. The hormones secreted by the posterior and anterior pituitary, and the intermediate zone between the lobes are summarized in. It consists of two lobes that arise from distinct parts of embryonic tissue: the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) is neural tissue, whereas the anterior pituitary (also known as the adenohypophysis) is glandular tissue that develops from the primitive digestive tract. The pituitary gland is cradled within the sellaturcica of the sphenoid bone of the skull. In addition, the hypothalamus is anatomically and functionally related to the pituitary gland (or hypophysis), a bean-sized organ suspended from it by a stem called the infundibulum (or pituitary stalk). It has both neural and endocrine functions, producing and secreting many hormones.
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The hypothalamus is a structure of the diencephalon of the brain located anterior and inferior to the thalamus ( ).
![posterior pituitary hormones posterior pituitary hormones](https://img.tfd.com/mk/P/X2604-P-26.png)
In many cases, a stimulus received by the nervous system must pass through the hypothalamus–pituitary complex to be translated into hormones that can initiate a response. In addition, the hypothalamus–pituitary complex coordinates the messages of the endocrine and nervous systems. This complex secretes several hormones that directly produce responses in target tissues, as well as hormones that regulate the synthesis and secretion of hormones of other glands. The hypothalamus–pituitary complex can be thought of as the “command center” of the endocrine system.
![posterior pituitary hormones posterior pituitary hormones](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459247/bin/StatePearls_Pituitary_ElSayed_2016_Kathi.jpg)
Identify the two hormones released from the posterior pituitary, their target cells, and their principal actions.Explain the interrelationships of the anatomy and functions of the hypothalamus and the posterior and anterior lobes of the pituitary gland.By the end of this section, you will be able to: