Final answer:
The anterior pituitary gland manufactures and secretes hormones influenced by the hypothalamus, while the posterior pituitary stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus. Hormones from the anterior pituitary include growth hormone and prolactin among others, regulating various bodily functions. The posterior pituitary releases oxytocin and vasopressin, which affect the uterus, mammary glands, and kidneys.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anterior pituitary gland synthesizes and secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream, influenced by releasing and inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus. The anterior pituitary produces hormones such as growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), melanin-stimulating hormone (MSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormones regulate the functions of other endocrine glands or have direct effects on their target organs.
The posterior pituitary, on the other hand, does not manufacture hormones; it stores and releases hormones made by the hypothalamus. Two key hormones released by the posterior pituitary are oxytocin and vasopressin. Oxytocin targets the uterus and mammary glands, stimulating contractions and milk ejection, respectively. Vasopressin targets the kidneys to regulate water balance in the body.
Hormonal release from the anterior pituitary is regulated by feedback mechanisms involving regulatory hormones from the hypothalamus that reach the gland via the hypophyseal portal system. In contrast, the posterior pituitary is mainly a storage site for hormones produced by hypothalamic neurons and released in response to neurological signals.