AEMCA Practice Exam

Does the posterior pituitary gland produce hormones?

1. Yes, it produces both hormones

2. No, it only stores hormones

3. Only during stress

4. Yes, it produces vasopressin and oxytocin

The correct answer is: No, it only stores hormones

The posterior pituitary gland primarily functions as a storage site for hormones rather than producing them. It contains two key hormones—vasopressin (also known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH) and oxytocin—that are synthesized in the hypothalamus and transported down the axons to the posterior pituitary for storage and release into the bloodstream when needed. Understanding the anatomical relationship between the posterior pituitary and the hypothalamus is crucial. While the posterior pituitary does not produce these hormones, it plays an essential role in their regulation and delivery, making it vital for bodily functions such as water retention and childbirth. The assertion that the posterior pituitary produces hormones is a misconception; rather, it is responsible for the release of hormones that have been produced elsewhere. This distinction is key to understanding the function of the posterior pituitary within the endocrine system.