Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland
4. Comparative Summary Table
|
Feature |
Anterior Pituitary (Adenohypophysis) |
Posterior Pituitary (Neurohypophysis) |
|
Origin |
Rathke’s pouch (oral ectoderm) |
Neuroectoderm (diencephalon) |
|
Connection to Hypothalamus |
Vascular (portal system) |
Neural (hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract) |
|
Main Nuclei |
Arcuate, Paraventricular (releasing hormones), Preoptic |
Supraoptic, Paraventricular (hormone synthesis) |
|
Type of Tissue |
Glandular |
Neural |
|
Main Hormones |
GH, TSH, ACTH, LH, FSH, PRL, MSH |
ADH, Oxytocin |
|
Mode of Hormone Transport |
Hypothalamic hormones via portal blood |
Hormones synthesized in hypothalamus, transported along axons |
|
Blood Supply |
Superior hypophyseal arteries → portal system |
Inferior hypophyseal arteries |
|
Main Function |
Secretes trophic hormones controlling peripheral endocrine glands |
Stores and releases hypothalamic hormones |