The pituitary gland by virtue of its tropic hormones controls the secretory activity of other endocrine glands. Which one of the following endocrine glands can function independent of the pituitary gland ?

examrobotsa's picture

Submitted by examrobotsa on

Q: 117 (IAS/1997)
The pituitary gland by virtue of its tropic hormones controls the secretory activity of other endocrine glands.
Which one of the following endocrine glands can function independent of the pituitary gland ?

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,22,70,29,19,22,22

keywords: 

{'other endocrine glands': [1, 1, 0, 0], 'pituitary gland': [4, 0, 0, 0], 'following endocrine glands': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'tropic hormones': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'secretory activity': [0, 1, 0, 0], 'parathyroid': [1, 1, 0, 0], 'thyroid': [1, 0, 0, 0], 'adrenals': [1, 1, 1, 1], 'gonads': [1, 1, 0, 0]}

The pituitary gland releases tropic hormones that control the secretory activity of other endocrine glands:

1. The thyroid gland and pituitary gland are closely connected. The release of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary gland stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine.

2. The gonads (ovaries and testes) are stimulated by the pituitary`s releasing of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), driving the production of sex hormones.

3. The adrenal glands are regulated by the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) released by the pituitary gland, stimulating the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, a stress hormone.

4. On the other hand, the parathyroid glands, which regulate calcium levels in the body, function largely independent of the pituitary gland. They release parathyroid hormone (PTH) in response to low blood calcium levels, which is not controlled by the pituitary gland.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 4, the parathyroid can function independently of the pituitary gland.