Final answer:
The statement is true: the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system is a true connection between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, specifically facilitating the transport of hormones to the anterior pituitary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system is a special blood supply that provides a connection between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland is true. This sophisticated vascular system begins with the superior hypophyseal artery branching from the carotid arteries, which then leads to the primary capillary plexus in the hypothalamus. Hormones released from the hypothalamus travel through these capillaries and reach the anterior pituitary via portal veins. The anterior pituitary is able to respond by releasing its own hormones into a secondary capillary plexus that connects to the systemic circulation.
Thus, the hypophyseal portal system permits a direct and efficient transport of hormones between the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary, bypassing the need to enter the general circulatory system. The posterior pituitary, on the other hand, is connected to the hypothalamus by nerve axons rather than by this vascular system.