Name the part of the brain that functions as an endocrine gland. Name and describe the role of the hormone it secretes which is involved in influencing the height of a person.
Hypothalamus is part of the brain and it also functions as an endocrine gland. Hypothalamus secretes 7 different hormones. Out of these 7 hormones following are involved in influencing the height of a person:-- Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH): As its name indicates, GHRH stimulates cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary to secrete growth hormone (GH). Growth hormone in turn cause an increase in height.
- Somatostatin: It acts on the anterior lobe of the pituitary to inhibit the release of growth hormone (GH). In this way, too much increase of height is checked.