Which is not produced by the pituitary gland?
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A
FSH
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B
TRH
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C
LH
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D
ADH
The hormone that is not produced by the pituitary gland is thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).
The pituitary gland is often called the “master gland” because it secretes many hormones that regulate other endocrine organs. However, not all hormones associated with pituitary function are actually synthesized there. Some hormones originate in the hypothalamus and act on the pituitary to control its activity. TRH is one such hormone, as it is produced in the hypothalamus and only acts on the pituitary rather than being made by it.
A) FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone)
Follicle-stimulating hormone is a gonadotropin synthesized and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. In females, FSH stimulates the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles and promotes estrogen production. In males, it acts on the seminiferous tubules to support spermatogenesis.
Its production is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus, but the hormone itself is manufactured in the pituitary. Therefore, FSH is produced by the pituitary gland and is not the correct answer.
B) TRH (Thyrotropin-releasing hormone)
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone is synthesized in the hypothalamus, not in the pituitary gland. It is a small tripeptide hormone that is released into the hypothalamic–hypophyseal portal circulation and transported directly to the anterior pituitary.
Once it reaches the pituitary, TRH stimulates thyrotroph cells to secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which then acts on the thyroid gland to promote production of T3 and T4. Because TRH originates in the hypothalamus and merely acts on the pituitary as a regulatory signal, it is not produced by the pituitary gland. This makes it the correct answer.
C) LH (Luteinizing hormone)
Luteinizing hormone is another gonadotropin produced by the anterior pituitary gland. In females, LH triggers ovulation and stimulates the formation of the corpus luteum. In males, it stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone.
Like FSH, LH is released in response to GnRH from the hypothalamus, but its synthesis and secretion occur in the pituitary. Therefore, LH is produced by the pituitary gland and is not the correct choice.
D) ADH (Antidiuretic hormone)
Antidiuretic hormone, also known as vasopressin, is synthesized in the hypothalamus, specifically in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. However, it is transported down axons to the posterior pituitary gland, where it is stored and released into the bloodstream.
Because the pituitary gland releases ADH into circulation and functions as its site of secretion, ADH is commonly considered a pituitary hormone in clinical and anatomical classifications, even though its site of synthesis is the hypothalamus. For this reason, ADH is associated with pituitary output and is not the correct answer.
Conclusion:
The pituitary gland produces and secretes many important hormones, including FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary and releases ADH from the posterior pituitary. TRH, however, is synthesized in the hypothalamus and serves only as a regulatory hormone that stimulates the pituitary to release TSH.
Therefore, the hormone that is not produced by the pituitary gland is TRH.

Topic Flashcards
Click to FlipWhat is the name of the specialized circulatory system that carries regulatory hormones like TRH and GnRH from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary?
The hypophyseal portal system (hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal circulation).
Which two hormones are synthesized in the hypothalamus but stored and released from the posterior pituitary?
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH/Vasopressin) and Oxytocin.
What is the general term for hormones from the hypothalamus (like TRH and CRH) that stimulate the anterior pituitary to release its own hormones?
Releasing hormones (or releasing factors).
Which lobe of the pituitary gland is composed of neural tissue and is an extension of the hypothalamus?
The posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis).
What hormone, produced by the anterior pituitary, is stimulated by TRH and targets the thyroid gland?
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH).