Hormones Produced by the Major Hormone-Producing (i.e., Endocrine) Glands and Their Primary Functions
| Endocrine Gland | Hormone | Primary Hormone Function |
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| Hypothalamus | Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) | Stimulates the pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) |
| Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) | Stimulates the pituitary to release luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) | |
| Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) | Stimulates the pituitary to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) | |
| Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) | Stimulates the release of growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary | |
| Somatostatin | Inhibits the release of GH from the pituitary | |
| Dopamine | Inhibits the release of prolactin from the pituitary | |
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| Anterior pituitary gland | ACTH | Stimulates the release of hormones from the adrenal cortex |
| LH | In women, stimulates the production of sex hormones (i.e., estrogens) in the ovaries as well as during ovulation; in men, stimulates testosterone production in the testes | |
| FSH | In women, stimulates follicle development; in men, stimulates sperm production | |
| TSH | Stimulates the release of thyroid hormone | |
| GH | Promotes the body’s growth and development | |
| Prolactin | Controls milk production (i.e., lactation) | |
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| Posterior pituitary gland1 | Vasopressin | Helps control the body’s water and electrolyte levels |
| Oxytocin | Promotes uterine contraction during labor and activates milk ejection in nursing women | |
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| Adrenal cortex | Cortisol | Helps control carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism; protects against stress |
| Aldosterone | Helps control the body’s water and electrolyte regulation | |
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| Testes | Testosterone | Stimulates development of the male reproductive organs, sperm production, and protein anabolism |
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| Ovaries | Estrogen (produced by the follicle) | Stimulates development of the female reproductive organs |
| Progesterone (produced by the corpus luteum) | Prepares uterus for pregnancy and mammary glands for lactation | |
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| Thyroid gland | Thyroid hormone (i.e., thyroxine [T4] and triiodothyronine [T3]) | Controls metabolic processes in all cells |
| Calcitonin | Helps control calcium metabolism (i.e., lowers calcium levels in the blood) | |
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| Parathyroid gland | Parathyroid hormone (PTH) | Helps control calcium metabolism (i.e., increases calcium levels in the blood) |
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| Pancreas | Insulin | Helps control carbohydrate metabolism (i.e., lowers blood sugar levels) |
| Glucagon | Helps control carbohydrate metabolism (i.e., increases blood sugar levels) | |
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These hormones are produced in the hypothalamus but stored in and released from the posterior pituitary gland.