Final answer:
Without a pituitary gland, there would be no production of TSH, leading to (2) decreased thyroid hormones. However, the hypothalamus would continue to secrete increased TRH in an unregulated attempt to stimulate the absent pituitary gland.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient born without a pituitary gland would lack the secretion of certain hormones that are normally produced by this gland, including the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is necessary for stimulating the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormones. The hypothalamus secretes thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which normally prompts the pituitary to release TSH.
However, if there is no pituitary gland, TSH cannot be produced, and thus, the thyroid will not be stimulated to produce thyroid hormones. In this negative feedback system, without thyroid hormones exerting a feedback effect, we would expect there to be increased TRH as the hypothalamus attempts to stimulate the nonexistent pituitary. Therefore, the expected hormonal levels in such a patient would be increased TRH and decreased thyroid hormones.