<P> The nervous system, acting through hypothalamic controls, can in certain cases override or modulate hormonal effects . </P> <P> The pituitary gland hangs from the base of the brain by a stalk and is enclosed by bone . It consists of a hormone - producing glandular portion (anterior pituitary) and a neural portion (posterior pituitary), which is an extension of the hypothalamus . The hypothalamus regulates the hormonal output of the anterior pituitary and synthesizes two hormones that it exports to the posterior pituitary for storage and later release . </P> <P> Four of the six anterior pituitary hormones are tropic hormones that regulate the function of other endocrine organs . Most anterior pituitary hormones exhibit a diurnal rhythm of release, which is subject to modification by stimuli influencing the hypothalamus . </P> <P> Somatotropic hormone or Growth hormone (GH) is an anabolic hormone that stimulates growth of all body tissues but especially skeletal muscle and bone . It may act directly, or indirectly via insulin - like growth factors (IGFs). GH mobilizes fats, stimulates protein synthesis, and inhibits glucose uptake and metabolism . Secretion is regulated by growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH), or somatostatin . Hypersecretion causes gigantism in children and acromegaly in adults; hyposecretion in children causes pituitary dwarfism . </P>

Hormones that control the functions of other endocrine glands are secreted by the