Pituitary Gland Hormones and Functions | NEET Zoology

Pituitary Gland Hormones and Functions

The pituitary gland is a small endocrine gland located at the base of the brain. It is connected to the hypothalamus and helps regulate growth, reproduction, lactation, water balance and the activity of several other endocrine glands.

Questions that ask students to identify the correctly matched hormone and function pair are common in NEET UG. Accurate understanding of the pituitary divisions and their hormones is essential for answering them.

Divisions of the Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland has two major divisions:

Adenohypophysis

The adenohypophysis is the glandular portion of the pituitary. It includes the pars distalis and pars intermedia.

The pars distalis secretes:

• Growth Hormone
• Prolactin
• Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
• Luteinising Hormone

The pars intermedia secretes:

• Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone

Neurohypophysis

The neurohypophysis is the posterior part of the pituitary gland. It stores and releases:

• Oxytocin
• Vasopressin or Antidiuretic Hormone

These two hormones are synthesised in the hypothalamus.

Important Hormone and Function Pairs

• Growth Hormone: Supports body growth and tissue development
• Prolactin: Stimulates milk production
• TSH: Stimulates the thyroid gland
• ACTH: Stimulates the adrenal cortex
• FSH: Supports ovarian follicle development and spermatogenesis
• LH: Supports ovulation and androgen secretion
• MSH: Influences skin pigmentation
• Oxytocin: Supports uterine contractions and milk ejection
• ADH: Promotes water reabsorption by the kidneys

Important NEET Points

• The pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus
• The anterior pituitary produces several hormones
• The posterior pituitary stores and releases ADH and oxytocin
• Prolactin supports milk production
• Oxytocin supports milk ejection
• TSH acts on the thyroid gland
• ACTH acts on the adrenal cortex
• FSH and LH are called gonadotropins
• Hormone names and functions must be matched carefully

Watch the complete Zoology 03 video to identify the correctly matched pair and understand why the other options are incorrect.

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