Final answer:
The posterior pituitary gland releases antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin, which regulate water balance and promote childbirth and lactation, respectively. In contrast, the anterior pituitary produces its own hormones like GH, PRL, TSH, ACTH, FSH, and LH, which control growth, metabolism, and reproduction, under control from the hypothalamus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hormones of the Posterior Pituitary
The posterior pituitary gland releases two main hormones into the circulatory system: antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, and oxytocin. ADH's principal action is to regulate water balance in the body by increasing water reabsorption in the kidneys, thereby reducing urine volume and preventing dehydration. Oxytocin primarily targets the uterus and mammary glands, promoting uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding.
Comparison with Anterior Pituitary
While the posterior pituitary stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary produces and secretes its hormones, which include growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). These anterior pituitary hormones regulate various physiological processes, such as growth, metabolism, and reproductive functions. Regulation of hormone secretion from the anterior lobe is controlled by hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones, as well as negative feedback mechanisms.