Hypothalamus and hypophysis. Diagram showing the brain's hypothalamus (white) and hypophysis (pituitary gland,orange),the link between the nervous system and the endocrine system. Neurosecretory cells (orange spheres) release hormones that trigger the hypophysis to release hormones. At right is the posterior hypophysis,which secretes oxytocin and vasopressin. At left,the anterior hypophysis secretes luteinizing hormone (LH),adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),and somatotropin hormone (growth hormone,STH). Also shown are capillaries (red) |