The hypothalamus regulates what aspect related to the pituitary gland?

• A. Regulates respiration
• B. Processes olfactory information
• C. Controls production and release of hormones from the pituitary gland
• D. Controls production of hormones in the pituitary gland

Answer: (D)

The hypothalamus acts as the master regulator of the pituitary by sending releasing and inhibiting signals that control the pituitary’s output. For the anterior pituitary, hypothalamic factors determine how much and when pituitary hormones are produced and released; for the posterior pituitary, hypothalamic neurons produce hormones that are stored and then released from the posterior lobe. Therefore, the relationship centers on regulating the production and release of pituitary hormones, not simply where those hormones are made. The other options don’t relate to this regulatory role, since respiration and olfactory processing are handled by other brain regions.