<P> Tropic hormones are hormones that have other endocrine glands as their target . Most tropic hormones are produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary . The hypothalamus secretes tropic hormones that target the anterior pituitary, and the thyroid gland secretes thyroxine, which targets the hypothalamus and therefore can be considered a tropic hormone . </P> <P> The term tropic is from Ancient Greek τροπικός (tropikós), in the sense "of or pertaining to a turn or change", meaning "causing a change, affecting"; this is the same origin as tropic and trope . This should not be confused with trophic, as in similar - sounding trophic hormone--the words and concepts are both unrelated . Tropic hormones are contrasted with non-tropic hormones, which directly stimulate target cells . </P>

The hormones of the adenohypophysis are called tropic hormones because