Final answer:
The six major hormones produced by the anterior pituitary gland are growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone, with melanin-stimulating hormone sometimes listed as a seventh. These hormones are critical for various bodily functions and are regulated by the hypothalamus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anterior pituitary gland, also known as adenohypophysis, plays a crucial role in the endocrine system by producing several key hormones. Six major hormones traditionally attributed to the anterior pituitary include growth hormone (GH), which is responsible for cellular growth and regeneration; prolactin (PRL), which stimulates milk production; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which regulates the thyroid gland; adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal cortex; follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is involved in the maturation of ovarian follicles in females and sperm production in males; and luteinizing hormone (LH), which triggers ovulation and stimulates testosterone production in males.
It should be noted, however, that there is a seventh hormone known as melanin-stimulating hormone (MSH), which is less commonly mentioned but still produced by the anterior pituitary. These hormones are regulated by the hypothalamus, which releases releasing and inhibiting hormones that travel through the hypophyseal portal system to the anterior pituitary. The release of these hormones is a critical component of the body's feedback mechanism, maintaining homeostasis.