hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal circulation
Quick Summary
The hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal circulation is a specialized system of blood vessels that directly connects the hypothalamus in the brain to the anterior pituitary gland. This unique vascular network begins in capillaries within the hypothalamus, which then merge into veins that lead to a second capillary bed in the anterior pituitary. This arrangement allows neurohormones secreted by the hypothalamus to be transported directly to the anterior pituitary cells, largely bypassing the general circulation. These hypothalamic neurohormones, known as releasing or inhibiting hormones, regulate the secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary, which in turn control many other endocrine glands and bodily functions.123
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