hormones
Anterior Pituitary The anterior pituitary gland, or adenohypophysis, is surrounded by a capillary network that extends from the hypothalamus, down along the infundibulum, and to the anterior pituitary. This capillary network is a part of the hypophyseal portal system that carries substances from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary and hormones from the anterior pituitary into the circulatory system. A portal system carries blood from one capillary network to another; therefore, the hypophyseal portal system allows hormones produced by the hypothalamus to be carried directly to the anterior pituitary without first entering the circulatory system. The anterior pituitary produces seven hormones: growth hormone GH , prolactin PRL , thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH , melanin-stimulating hormone MSH , adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH , follicle-stimulating hormone FSH , and luteinizing hormone LH . Anterior pituitary hormones are sometimes referred to as tropic hormones, because they.