Vasopressin: Vasopressin is mainly an antidiuretic hormone.
Let us take a look at the two hormones stored in the posterior pituitary and their functions. It is composed of cells like that of neurons, and long axons link the posterior pituitary to the hypothalamus. It acts as an extension of the hypothalamus and stores the hormones released by the hypothalamus. Making up for 25% of the pituitary gland, the posterior pituitary has no hand in synthesizing hormones. Neurohypophysis or the posterior pituitary happens to be the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
Prolactin: Aids in lactation What is the Posterior Pituitary?.
Thyroid hormone: stimulates different functions in the thyroid gland.
Luteinizing hormone: Ovulation in women and testosterone release in men.
Follicle-stimulating hormone: In women, it takes control of the growth of ovaries, while in men it aids in spermatogenesis.
Let us take a look into the different hormones released and their different functions: The tropic hormones released by the anterior regulate different functions. They do not release the hormones they produce directly into the bloodstream, but send it to those target endocrine glands. It is mostly made up of endocrine cells like eosinophilic, basophilic, and neutrophilic cells, and have other endocrine glands as their targets. Though it is just 75% of a pea-shaped gland, it has some vital roles to play in the body. The anterior portion of the pituitary gland is known as the anterior pituitary. But it stores hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin, and later releases it into the system. The posterior pituitary cannot produce hormones per se. Hormones released The anterior pituitary produces and releases a lot of useful hormones like thyroid hormone, somatotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone into the system. The posterior pituitary is made up of fewer cells and mostly contains cells like that of neutrons. Composure The anterior pituitary is made up of cells like eosinophilic, basophilic, and neutrophilic. The posterior pituitary is smaller compared to the anterior pituitary and takes up only 25% of the pituitary gland. The posterior pituitary can be claimed simply as an extension of the hypothalamus which was formed during the embryonic development stage Size The anterior pituitary makes up almost 27% of the pituitary gland. Origin The origin of the anterior pituitary is ectodermal. The posterior pituitary is also known as Neurohypophysis. Comparison Table Between Anterior Pituitary and Posterior Pituitary Parameters of Comparison Anterior Pituitary Posterior Pituitary Different names The anterior pituitary is also known as Adenohypophysis.