Final answer:
The releasing and inhibiting hormones of the hypothalamus directly regulate the secretions of the anterior pituitary gland.
Step-by-step explanation:
The releasing and inhibiting hormones of the hypothalamus directly regulate the secretions of the anterior pituitary gland.
The hypothalamus produces regulatory hormones known as releasing hormones or inhibiting hormones, which control the secretion of the anterior pituitary hormones. These regulatory hormones travel from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary through the hypophyseal portal system, where they stimulate or inhibit the release of specific pituitary hormones.
For example, releasing hormones from the hypothalamus stimulate the anterior pituitary to produce hormones such as growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone.