Question

ACTH is secreted from the
A. Adrenal cortex
B. Pituitary
C. Adrenal medulla
D. Thyroid

Answer 1

Hint: ACTH or adrenal corticotropic hormone is important for cortisol regulation. ACTH production or secretion occurs from certain regions of the hypophysis.

Complete answer: ACTH is an important hormone involved in the HPA axis.
ACTH is the abbreviated form of the adrenocorticotropic hormone.
It may also be called as ‘corticotropin’.
The adenohypophysis of the anterior part of the pituitary gland synthesizes and secretes this hormone.
The ACTH secretion levels can regulate the secretion of cortisol – an adrenal steroid hormone, a glucocorticoid hormone.
The low levels of ACTH stimulate certain cells of the hypothalamus.
Those cells release corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) which further stimulates the adenohypophysis to produce ACTH into the bloodstream.
ACTH then stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol.

So, the correct option is B. Pituitary

Note: Cortisol is secreted from zona fasciculata of adrenal cortex. It has a wide range of functions e.g. BMR regulation, erythrocyte production, blood pressure control, anti-inflammatory effects, etc. The above-mentioned regulatory pathway is often called the HPA axis (Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis).