Question

What qualifies the hypothalamus to be called the master gland?

A) It regulates the nervous and endocrine responses to stimuli.
B) It stimulates the pituitary gland to control the endocrine system.
C) It combines the nervous and endocrine system to work together.
D) It produces all of the releasing hormones in the body.

Answer 1

The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland, the 'master gland' of the endocrine system, by producing releasing and inhibiting hormones, thus indirectly controlling other endocrine glands.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "master gland" is often associated with the pituitary gland, which controls other endocrine glands; however, it is the hypothalamus that regulates the pituitary gland. Thus, answer B) 'It stimulates the pituitary gland to control the endocrine system' appropriately identifies what qualifies the hypothalamus to be called the master gland. The hypothalamus produces releasing and inhibiting hormones that command the anterior pituitary to secrete hormones influencing other endocrine glands. It is part of the brain that provides a crucial link between the nervous and endocrine systems, directly affecting physiological processes such as growth, reproduction, and metabolism.