Objectives 5 & 12 - Hypothalamus and Hypothalamus-Pituitary Complex

¨Is the hypothalamus a true endocrine gland?  Hmmm, debatable I guess.  True endocrine glands are not supposed to have ducts, yet the hypothalamus does.  It has ducts connecting it to the posterior pituitary.  So instead of releasing hormones directly to the blood stream it releases hormones directly to the pituitary.  The pituitary then stores these hormones until it receives a signal from the hypothalamic neurons.  Either way you look at it, there’s a lot of information to remember here, its amazing that something as small as the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland can have such DRASTIC effects on your body and your overall wellbeing!  This picture helped me to wrap my brain around all of the hormones that were involved in this in-depth process!

 http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Models_of_hypothalamus