Several hormones are synthesized in the hypothalamus and transported to the anterior pituitary gland. The mechanism of transportation from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary gland is through the ________.

The hypothalamus- pituitary secretory complex can be referred to as the "command center" of the endocrine system. This is because the complex regulates the synthesis and secretion of hormones by other glands.

The anterior pituitary secretes a battery of hormones that collectively influence virtually all physiological responses in the body. This function makes the pituitary gland be referred to as the"master gland" of the body. This is true but the hypothalamus is responsible for regulating the synthesis of these hormones by the pituitary. Some neurons in the hypothalamus secrete hormones that controls the secretion of hormones by the anterior pituitary. These hypothalamic hormones are referred to as releasing and inhibiting hormones depending on whether they stimulate or inhibit secretion of hormones by the anterior pituitary.

The hypothalamus releasing/inhibiting hormone are carried directly to the anterior pituitary through a network of blood vessels in the infundibulum called hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal veins.

Specific hypothalamic hormones bind to receptors on specific anterior pituitary cells, thereby regulating the release/inhibition of the hormone they produce.