POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND HORMONE IN DETAIL | BSC NURSING | GNM | POST BSC NURSING ALL NURSING

The posterior pituitary gland stores and releases two main hormones made by the hypothalamus: Oxytocin, involved in childbirth, milk ejection, and social bonding; and Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), also called vasopressin, which regulates water balance and blood pressure by acting on the kidneys. Both hormones travel down nerve fibers from the hypothalamus to the posterior lobe for release into the bloodstream when signaled.
Key Hormones
Oxytocin (OT):
Function: Stimulates uterine contractions during labor and milk let-down during breastfeeding. Also linked to social bonding, trust, and sexual arousal.
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) / Vasopressin (VP):
Function: Helps the kidneys reabsorb water back into the body, concentrating urine and conserving fluid. It also causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure.
How They Work
Production: The hypothalamus synthesizes oxytocin and ADH.
Storage & Release: Nerve signals from the hypothalamus travel down axons to the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis), where the hormones are stored and released directly into the bloodstream.
Regulation: Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus detect changes in blood solute concentration (like dehydration) and trigger ADH release.
In essence, the posterior pituitary acts as a storage and release site for crucial brain-produced hormones that manage reproduction, fluid balance, and blood pressure.