 It is a part of the brain that

lies below the thalamus,

forming the major portion of Cerebrum
the ventral region of the
diencephalon and the floor of
the lateral wall of the third
ventricle.
It constitutes less than 1 % of Hypothalamu
s
the total volume of the brain, it Pituitary gland
has an important influence on a Brain stem
Cerebellum
large number of normal
functions.
 It is now considered as an endocrine
gland because it regulates the functions
of the pituitary gland
 The hypothalamus receives signals
from the higher centers of the brain,
translates them and sends the
appropriate messengers
(neurohormones) to the pituitary gland
I) The hypothalamic neurohormones control the
anterior pituitary hormones :
 1- Thyrotrophin releasing
hormone (TRH) ↑: It is a tripeptide
 2- Corticotrophin releasing
hormone (CRH) ↑: It is 41 amino
acids protein
 3- Gonadotrophin releasing
hormone (GnRH) ↑: It is
decapeptide
4- Growth hormone releasing
hormone (GHRH) ↑: It is 44 amino
acids protein
 5- Prolactin releasing hormone (PIH)↑: Its structure is
unknown.
6- Somatostatin (SS) (SST) (growth hormone inhibiting
hormone) ↑: It is 14 amino acids protein
 7- Prolactin release inhibiting hormone (PIH) ( dopamine)
(DA) ↑: It is a tyrosine derived hormone
II) On the other hand, hypothalamus secrets
another group of hormones which is transported
to the posterior pituitary.
They include the following
hormones:
 1- Oxytocin: It is a protein
hormone.
 2- Vasopressin (VP) (antidiuretic
hormone) (ADH): It is a protein
hormone.

Note
These hormones are
stored in the posterior
pituitary till it releases
them.
o It was considered for a long time as the maestro (master)
gland.
o It is controlled by hypothalamus.
o It lies at the base of the brain, below the hypothalamus.
o It is connected to the hypothalamus by a stalk (neck)
containing nerve fibers and blood vessels.
o It weighs 0.5-o.8 g in human and slightly larger in
females.
The pituitary gland
is composed of two
lobes which are:

I- Anterior pituitary
(adenohypophysis), and

II- Posterior pituitary

(neurohypophysis).
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I- Anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis):
 It secretes 6 hormones. The regulation of these
hormones is controlled by hypothalamic neurohormones .
These hormones are:
 1- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (thyrotropin): It
is glycoprotein. The target organ is the thyroid gland.
 2- Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (corticotropin):
It is a protein. The target organ is the adrenal cortex.
 3&4- Luteinizing hormone (LH)) and follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH): They are glycoprotein. The target organ is
the gonad (testis or ovary).
 5- Growth hormone (GH) (somatotropin): It is a protein.
The target organ is the liver and almost all the cells such
as muscle cells, bone cells, … etc.
 6- Prolactin: It is a protein. The target organ is the
mammary gland i.e. breast growth and milk synthesis.
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II- Posterior pituitary (neurohpophysis):
 It is an outgrowth of the hypothalamus and composed of
nervous tissue, hence the name neurohypophysis is
derived.
 Oxytocin and vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) (ADH)
are synthesized in the hypothalamus, but they are stored
and secreted by the posterior pituitary.
The main functions of oxytocin are:
* Stimulates uterine contraction during childbirth and
* Initiates the production of milk by the mammary glands
i.e. ↑ milk secretion.
So, the target organs of this hormone are uterus and
mammary glands.
* Stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb water, which
maintains the body’s water balance
So, the target organ is the kidney.