The Hypothalamus and The Anterior Pituitary

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The Hypothalamus and The Anterior Pituitary

The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that has direct control over the release of hormones from the pituitary gland. These hormones are called regulatory hormones. They are considered regulatory hormones because they are molecules secreted into the blood to regulate secretion of anterior pituitary hormones (McKinley 669). Regulatory hormones are produced in the hypothalamus and they travel to the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland; therefore affecting target organs to produce certain functions in the body, and Graves disease is related to this process.
The anterior pituitary is an endocrine gland controlled by the hypothalamus in several different fashions. Releasing and release-inhibiting hormones are synthesized in the paraventricular, periventricular, and the supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. They control anterior pituitary hormone secretion. Paravocellular neurons in these nuclei send their axons into the tuberoinfundibular tract and terminate on a capillary bed of the superior hypophyseal arteries located around the base of the median eminence. A given paravocellular neuron may release one or more releasing factor into the capillaries that coalesce in six to ten small straight veins that form the hypophyseal-portal blood circulation which descends along the infundibular stalk and forms a second capillary plexus around the anterior pituitary. The releasing-hormones gain access to the five distinct types of target cells in the anterior pituitary back into the capillary bed that then drains into the systemic circulation and transports the hormones to peripheral target tissues. The target tissues are stimulated to produce final mediator-hormones that induce the physiologic...

... middle of paper ...

...at, weight loss and brittle hair. This disease cannot be cured but controlled (Nordquist).
In conclusion, the body is a complex structure that is controlled largely by the hypothalamus. In these various functions, the hormones and the anterior pituitary carry out specific roles in order for the body to maintain homeostasis, however; if one part of these functions get out of control the body will then develop various diseases or abnormalities such as Graves disease.

Works Cited
Dougherty, Patrick.” Hypothalamic Control of the Pituitary Hormone.” Neuroscience.
UTHealth. n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
McKinley, Micheal, and O’Loughlin, and Bidle Theresa. Anatomy and Physiology An
Integrative Approach. New York: McGraw Hill, 2013. Print.
Nordiquist, Christian. “ What is Graves Disease? What Causes Graves Disease.” MNT
Website. N.p. n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.

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