You are studying with a group of medical-surgical nursing students. They are having difficulty understanding the lecture on the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. You explain it to them
a. What is the relationship between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland?
b. Explain why the pituitary gland is considered the "master" or "boss" gland.
c. What is the function of the pituitary gland and what are the hormones secreted?
d. What are the hormones secreted from the hypothalamus gland?
e. What is the feedback loop that the pituitary gland is involved in?
Students' answers should include the following:
a. The pituitary and the hypothalamus are connected by a stalk in the brain.
The hypothalamus resides between the cerebrum and the brain stem and projects downward toward the pituitary gland.
This projection is like a highway for the hormones to travel to inhibit and stimulate the pituitary gland.
b. The pituitary is considered the "master" or "boss" because it regulates a number of other hormones and glands to function.
c. The pituitary secretes or inhibits hormones by direction of the hypothalamus.
d. Hormones from the hypothalamus include TRH, CRH, ACTH, GnRH, LH, FSH, GH, and dopamine, which inhibits prolactin in the pituitary.
e. The feedback loop is a loop or mechanism that regulates the secretion or inhibition of hormones as needed by the body.
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