Which pairing is correctly matched as a major endocrine gland with a representative hormone?

• A. Hypothalamus — releasing hormones
• B. Pituitary — TSH
• C. Thyroid — Calcitonin
• D. Adrenal cortex — Adrenaline

Answer: (B)

Understanding how glands pair with their representative hormones helps you see the classic hormonal pathways. The anterior pituitary is a central endocrine gland that releases TSH, which acts on the thyroid to stimulate production of thyroid hormones. This pituitary–thyroid axis is a textbook example of a clear gland-to-hormone relationship, showing how a major endocrine organ drives another gland’s activity.

In contrast, the hypothalamus does release regulatory releasing hormones, but it’s best viewed as a neuroendocrine regulator rather than a primary endocrine gland with a circulating hormone that acts on distant targets. The thyroid does produce calcitonin, which helps regulate calcium, but the thyroid’s main representative hormones are T3 and T4, so calcitonin is a less typical example for this kind of pairing. The adrenal cortex makes corticosteroids like cortisol and aldosterone, whereas adrenaline (epinephrine) is produced by the adrenal medulla, not the cortex.