Question

Normally, activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is regulated by a feedback loop that reduces the release of cortisol. what is the order of signaling by which this reduction takes place?

a. ​hypothalamus to hippocampus to adrenal glands
b. ​hippocampus to pituitary gland to adrenal glands
c. ​hypothalamus to pituitary gland to adrenal glands
d. ​hippocampus to hypothalamus to adrenal glands

Answer 1

The correct answer is c. ​hypothalamus to pituitary gland to adrenal glands.

When it comes to stress, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) is responsible for stress response. Hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) which binds to its receptors on the anterior pituitary gland. As a result, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is released and it stimulates the release of cortisol from the adrenal gland. At a certain levels of cortisol, this steroid hormone exerts negative feedback to the hypothalamic release of CRH.