which is MASTER GLAND?

[Pdentalstudent]

I am very confused now because I was told by my school Prof that the master gland is Pituitary

but on kaplan it says the hypothalamus is the master gland

So which is right?! I was asked this question on my real DAT exam too and I answered Hypothalamus....which one is right?

The file i attached is a screen shot of the slide from Kaplan but i had to cut it and rearrange because it wont fit 400x400

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[yappy]

The master gland of the endocrine system is the pituitary gland.

I am very confused now because I was told by my school Prof that the master gland is Pituitary

but on kaplan it says the hypothalamus is the master gland

So which is right?! I was asked this question on my real DAT exam too and I answered Hypothalamus....which one is right?

The file i attached is a screen shot of the slide from Kaplan but i had to cut it and rearrange because it wont fit 400x400

 

[molar3]

pituitary

 

[jefff]

in endocrinology i learned the hypothalamus was the 'president'...

i hope they wouldn't test with these types of wording...

would they???

i just thought it was enough to know how they interact, what they release/store and their feedback mechanisms

 

[Pdentalstudent]

SURPRISINGLY THOUGH!! on my DAT exam (Canadian) last year THEY had this question! and both hypothalamus and the pituitary were MC choices....

 

[condog51]

I am very confused now because I was told by my school Prof that the master gland is Pituitary

but on kaplan it says the hypothalamus is the master gland

So which is right?! I was asked this question on my real DAT exam too and I answered Hypothalamus....which one is right?

The file i attached is a screen shot of the slide from Kaplan but i had to cut it and rearrange because it wont fit 400x400

I recently went over this in my Micro Anatomy class in dental school so it is still a bit fresh..

So to answer you question it is the pituitary, but more specifically the anterior pituitary or adenohypophysis.

Pathway: signals from the blood stream (remember your dealing with the endocrine system here) are decoded by the Hypothalamus. From there the hypothalamus relays the signal to the posterior pituitary or neurophysis. From there the signal is passed from the posterior pituitary, via the portal system, to the anterior pituitary. Now in the anterior pituitary hormones (FLAT PEG) are released into the blood stream.

**the posterior pituitary does NOT make hormones. Rather it stores the hormones (ADH "vasopressin" and oxytocin) which are made in the Hypothalamus.**

This is coming straight from memory so I hope it is all correct.... Good luck!

 

[phy241]

I would think it would be the Hypothalamus because even though Anterior Pituitary secretes a significant number of hormones, most of these secretions are REGULATED by the Hypothalamus. For instance, GnRH causes releases of FSH and LH, CRH causes release of ACTH, TRH causes release of TSH etc. Hypothalamus is at the top of this signalling cascade, so it wouldn't make sense to me to give Anterior Pituitary a higher authority if you will. Let me know what you guys think.

 

[jefff]

I would think it would be the Hypothalamus because even though Anterior Pituitary secretes a significant number of hormones, most of these secretions are REGULATED by the Hypothalamus. For instance, GnRH causes releases of FSH and LH, CRH causes release of ACTH, TRH causes release of TSH etc. Hypothalamus is at the top of this signalling cascade, so it wouldn't make sense to me to give Anterior Pituitary a higher authority if you will. Let me know what you guys think.

i agree with your perspective; however, it seems i can only find a greater number of sources saying its the pituitary gland.

in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690976 they say:
"The pituitary has been called the master gland of the body because of its central role in governing homeostasis, maintaining the reproductive cycle, and directing the activity of other glands."

they also go on to state the obvious that - "It is regulated by the hypothalamus via the portal vascular system."

so i think for our purpose we should choose the pituitary gland, and just know the facts about the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, their hormones and the feedback mechanisms.

 

[molar3]

i agree with your perspective; however, it seems i can only find a greater number of sources saying its the pituitary gland.

in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690976 they say:
"The pituitary has been called the master gland of the body because of its central role in governing homeostasis, maintaining the reproductive cycle, and directing the activity of other glands."

they also go on to state the obvious that - "It is regulated by the hypothalamus via the portal vascular system."

so i think for our purpose we should choose the pituitary gland, and just know the facts about the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, their hormones and the feedback mechanisms.

everytime i see a comment by you jefff i think theres a damn bug/gnat on my computer screen so i try & clean my screen and realize its JUST YOUR AVATAR. EVERY TIME. omg

 

[NewBee12]

The master gland is the pituitary gland.

 

[tayloreve]

My first thought was hypothalamus..

very tricky.....

this is sad, considering I'm in A&P2 right now lolol😀

 

[flyingforever]

My first thought was hypothalamus..

very tricky.....

this is sad, considering I'm in A&P2 right now lolol😀

I never heard that term before even though I have taken several Physiology, A&P, and endocrinology course.

 

[phy241]

That is quite bizarre, I wouldn't logically expect it to be pituitary, but I guess a peer-reviewed journal article settles the case.

i agree with your perspective; however, it seems i can only find a greater number of sources saying its the pituitary gland.

in http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690976 they say:
"The pituitary has been called the master gland of the body because of its central role in governing homeostasis, maintaining the reproductive cycle, and directing the activity of other glands."

they also go on to state the obvious that - "It is regulated by the hypothalamus via the portal vascular system."

so i think for our purpose we should choose the pituitary gland, and just know the facts about the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, their hormones and the feedback mechanisms.