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What does the hypophyseal portal system make possible?
AHormones travel down axons into the posterior lobe
BHormones reach the anterior lobe without systemic blood
CHormones drain from the pituitary into the thalamus
DHormones return from the pituitary to the hypothalamus
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Hormones reach the anterior lobe without systemic blood
1. The anterior pituitary is controlled by releasing and inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus.
2. Those hypothalamic hormones are secreted by neurons but travel to the anterior lobe in blood vessels.
3. A bridge of capillaries inside the infundibulum carries them straight there, bypassing the systemic circulation.
4. Travel down axons describes the posterior lobe route, which stores oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone instead.
5. Anterior pituitary hormones leave through a secondary capillary plexus and drain into the general circulation, not back to the hypothalamus.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 17 "The Endocrine System", section 17.3 The Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus_
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