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Hypothalamus and Pituitary

ENDOCRINE PHYSIOLOGY

Ihalamus

Hypothalamic sulcus

Hypothalamic area Hypothalamohypophyseal tract

J3MN A. CPAC— CMONJ

Connective

lissue

(trabecula)

Figurę 8.3 Structure of Hypothaiamus and Pituitary

The neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) is formed as a down-growth ot’ the diencephalon of the brain. The adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) is derived from RathkeS pouch (ectodermal tis-sue in thc oropharynxi. The intermediate lobe is not well devel-oped in humans. Neuroendocrine cells in the hypothalamus send axon$ into the posterior pituitary and to the region of the median eminence. i lormones ate rclcased from these axons into the systemie blood iposlorior pituitary) or into the hypothalami<-hypophv seal portal system (see Figurę 8.4) in the region of the median emi-

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