The diagram given below represents an endocrine gland in the human body. Study the diagram and answer the following questions: The diagram given below represents an endocrine gland in the human body. Study the diagram and answer the following questions:
Which lobe of the above gland secretes: 1. Oxytocin 2. ACTH 3. Growth hormone
Topic: Lobes of the pituitary
Answer
- Oxytocin — POSTERIOR lobe
- ACTH — ANTERIOR lobe
- Growth hormone — ANTERIOR lobe
THE SHORTCUT that answers every question of this kind: the POSTERIOR pituitary releases only TWO hormones — OXYTOCIN and ADH (vasopressin). Learn that pair, and anything else named as a pituitary hormone must be ANTERIOR.
That is far easier than memorising the longer anterior list, which includes growth hormone, TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH and prolactin.
A REFINEMENT worth knowing: the posterior lobe does not actually MAKE its two hormones. They are produced in the HYPOTHALAMUS and merely stored and released here — which is why the posterior lobe is nervous tissue rather than glandular.