Final answer:
Neurosecretory neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus terminate in the posterior pituitary, where they release oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) into the bloodstream.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neurosecretory neurons in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the hypothalamus terminate in the posterior pituitary gland. The cell bodies of these neurons reside in the hypothalamus, and their axons extend down the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract within the infundibulum, concluding in axon terminals that form part of the posterior pituitary. These neurons are responsible for the production of hormones oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, which are transported along these axons to be stored in and eventually released into the bloodstream from the axon terminals of the posterior pituitary. Neurophysins are carrier proteins that assist in the transport of these hormones from the hypothalamus to their storage sites in the nerve endings of the posterior pituitary.