Question

Short / Long answer type questions.
Hypothalamic hormones are an important link between the nervous and endocrine systems. What is the functional importance of the hypohyseal portal veins?

Answer 1

Hypothalamus is actually part of the brain hence nervous system. Although, it also secretes many releasing and inhibition hormones (7 different hormones) that regulates the release of hormones from pituitary gland. The pituitary is master gland of the endocrine gland as it secretes hormones that control other endocrine glands. Hence it can be rightly said that hypothalamic hormones are an important link between nervous and endocrine systems.

Hypophyseal portal veins connect hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary. Its main function is to quickly transport releasing and inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary gland. These hormones are important for overall control of pituitary as well as other endocrine glands.