this pituitary hormone goes to the adrenal glands

When someone confronts an oncoming car or other danger, the eyes or ears (or both) send the information to the amygdala, an area of the brain that contributes to emotional processing. The stress response begins in the brain (see illustration). More preliminary research suggests that chronic stress may also contribute to obesity, both through direct mechanisms (causing people to eat more) or indirectly (decreasing sleep and exercise). Research suggests that chronic stress contributes to high blood pressure, promotes the formation of artery-clogging deposits, and causes brain changes that may contribute to anxiety, depression, and addiction. Over time, repeated activation of the stress response takes a toll on the body.

Over the years, researchers have learned not only how and why these reactions occur, but have also gained insight into the long-term effects chronic stress has on physical and psychological health. Unfortunately, the body can also overreact to stressors that are not life-threatening, such as traffic jams, work pressure, and family difficulties. The carefully orchestrated yet near-instantaneous sequence of hormonal changes and physiological responses helps someone to fight the threat off or flee to safety. This combination of reactions to stress is also known as the 'fight-or-flight' response because it evolved as a survival mechanism, enabling people and other mammals to react quickly to life-threatening situations. A stressful incident can make the heart pound and breathing quicken. Finally, growth-hormone stimulates cell reproduction, development, and growth.Chronic activation of this survival mechanism impairs healthĪ stressful situation - whether something environmental, such as a looming work deadline, or psychological, such as persistent worry about losing a job - can trigger a cascade of stress hormones that produce well-orchestrated physiological changes. The other hormones released, but not shown here, are endorphins, which are released in response to exercise, pain, and excitement and cause a feeling of analgesia (well-being). Prolactin is a peptide hormone that stimulates milk production from the mammary glands and can affect levels of sex hormones.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates the thyroid gland into producing thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), both of which stimulate metabolism in most tissues. LH stimulates the ovaries and testes into producing estrogen and progesterone, and testosterone respectively. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) regulates reproductive processes, sexual maturation, development, and growth. FSH and LH both stimulate the gonads (ovaries and testes). ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone, stimulates the adrenal glands into releasing cortisol. The anterior pituitary is an endocrine gland that releases a variety of hormones in response to stimulus from the hypothalamus and other sources.

This pituitary hormone goes to the adrenal glands