Question

The activity of the adrenal cortex is governed by a pituitary hormone, abbreviated as
A. HCG
B. FSH
C. ACTH
D. TSH

Answer 1

Hint: This pituitary hormone is produced by the anterior pituitary.
This hormone regulates androgen and cortisol production.

Complete answer: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (or ACTH) is a tropic hormone (which means that this hormone has other endocrine glands as target).
It is produced in response to biological stress time after time.
Its key effects are increased release and production of cortisol by the adrenal cortex of the adrenal gland.

The hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenal glands control the secretion of ACTH.
When ACTH levels in the blood become less, a group of cells in the hypothalamus release a hormone known as a corticotropin-releasing hormone which stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete ACTH into the blood. If ACTH levels become high then a negative feedback loop comes into play.
First, the high levels of ACTH are detected by the adrenal gland receptors which stimulate the secretion of cortisol which in turn raises the cortisol levels in the blood.
As the cortisol levels rise, they begin to slow down the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus and the ACTH from the pituitary gland. This results in a decrease in ACTH levels.

So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note: Adrenocorticotropic hormone production and hence increase of cortisol levels are stimulated by both physical and psychological stress. ACTH is also used as a medication and as a diagnostic agent in the ACTH stimulation test.