Physiology
The median eminence is a part of the hypothalamus from which regulatory hormones are released. It is of great physiological importance, as it is integral to the hypophyseal portal system, which connects the hypothalamus with the pituitary gland. The pars nervosa (part of the posterior pituitary gland) is continuous with the median eminence of the hypothalamus via the infundibular stalk. Parvocellular neurons from the hypothalamus terminate in the median eminence of the hypothalamus. Specifically, it is in the median eminence that the secretions of the hypothalamus (releasing and inhibiting regulatory hormones, known as "hypophysiotropic hormones") collect before entering the portal system. Such hypophysiotropic hormones include: CRF (corticotropin releasing factor), GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone), TRH (thyrotropin releasing hormone), GHRH (growth hormone releasing hormone), and DA (dopamine). These hypophysiotropic hormones go on to stimulate or inhibit the release of hormones from the anterior pituitary.
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