adenohypophysis

The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, the part that produces its own hormones, under hormonal control itself from the hypothalamus.

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Endocrine system

source of a whole mess of hormones with different functions and targets throughout the body. Here are a few that I've found:

• adrenocorticotropin (ACTH): increases generation of steriods and secretion of the adrenal cortex.
  
  
• thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): targets the thyroid gland and stimulates secretion of thyroid hormones.
  
  
• growth hormone (GH): target most tissues in the body and modulate metabolism and energy production.
  
  
• follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): targets the seminiferous tubules in men and stimulates sperm production. In women, it stimulates maturation of the ovarian follicles.
  
  
• leuteinizing hormone (LH): targets interstitial cells in ovaries or testes (Leydig cells). In women, it cuases the ovarian follicles to mature, secrete estrogen and progesterone, and stimulate ovulation. In men, it increases the synthesis of androgens such as testosterone.
  
  
• prolactin: targets the mammary glands and increases synthesis of milk proteins and growth of the mammaries. Is also implicated in inducing instinctual parental behavior.
  
  
• melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH): targets pigment cells and increases melanin synthesis and induces dispersal into melanophores which causes a darkening of the skin.
  
  

The adenohypophysis is the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, but is itself divided into three regions. Most of the above hormones are secreted from the pars distalis which is the anterior lobe of the adenohypophysis. The pars intermedia is located between the pars distalis and the posterior lobe of the pituatary gland (known as the (neurohypophysis) and secretes the melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The pars tuberalis is a thin layer of cells that surrounds the stalk of the pituatary gland.