What are the hormones secreted by the adenohypophysis? What are their respective functions?
The adenohypophisys secretes GH (growth hormone), prolactin, ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone). GH, also known as somatotropic hormone (STH), acts upon bones, cartilages and muscles promoting the growth of these tissues. Prolactin is the hormone that in women stimulates the production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands. The ACTH is the hormone that stimulates the cortical portion of the adrenal gland to produce and secrete the cortical hormones (glucocorticoids). The TSH is the hormone that stimulates the activity of the thyroid gland increasing the production and secretion of its hormones T3 and T4. The FSH is a gonadotropic hormone, i.e., it stimulates the gonads and in women it acts upon the ovaries inducing the growth of follicles, in men it stimulates spermatogenesis. The LH is also a gonadotropic hormone that acts upon the ovaries of women to stimulate ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum (that secretes estrogen) and in men upon the testicles to stimulate the production of testosterone.
