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posterior pituitary lobe
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Labeled diagram of a mammalian pituitary gland showing key structures, including the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, neurosecretory cells, blood vessels, and pathways for hormone release and blood flow.
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posterior pituitary lobe

anatomy
Also known as: neurohypophysis
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Labeled diagram of a mammalian pituitary gland showing key structures, including the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, neurosecretory cells, blood vessels, and pathways for hormone release and blood flow.
pituitary gland anatomy The anatomy of the mammalian pituitary gland, showing the anterior lobe (adenohypophysis), the posterior lobe (neurohypophysis), the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, and other major structures.

The posterior pituitary lobe, also known as the neurohypophysis, is one of the two main parts of the pituitary gland. It is composed primarily of secretory neurons and is connected to the hypothalamus by a stalk containing nerve axons.1

Unlike the anterior pituitary, the posterior pituitary does not produce its own hormones. Instead, it stores and releases two hormones, vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) and oxytocin, which are synthesized in the hypothalamus. Vasopressin helps regulate blood pressure and water reabsorption in the kidneys, while oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions and milk ejection. The posterior pituitary's function is directly controlled by nerve signals originating in the hypothalamus.21

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. hypothalamus
  2. pituitary gland
  3. hormone - Prolactin
  4. pituitary gland

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