AEMCA Practice Exam

Which hormones are produced by the posterior pituitary gland?

1. FSH and LH

2. ACTH and GH

3. Vasopressin and oxytocin

4. Calcitonin and parathyroid hormone

The correct answer is: Vasopressin and oxytocin

The posterior pituitary gland is responsible for the production and secretion of hormones that are crucial for various bodily functions. It specifically releases vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which plays a vital role in regulating water balance in the body by promoting water reabsorption in the kidneys. Additionally, the posterior pituitary produces oxytocin, a hormone that is involved in several important processes, such as stimulating uterine contractions during childbirth and facilitating milk ejection during breastfeeding. Other options do not correctly represent the hormones produced by the posterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary, for instance, produces hormones like FSH, LH, ACTH, and GH, which are involved in regulating various physiological processes but are not secreted by the posterior pituitary. Calcitonin and parathyroid hormone are produced by the thyroid gland and the parathyroid glands, respectively, and are involved in calcium regulation within the body, but they also do not originate from the posterior pituitary. Thus, the correct identification of vasopressin and oxytocin as the hormones produced by the posterior pituitary highlights the specific endocrine functions of this part of the gland.