When the hypothalamus releases ______, the anterior pituitary then releases growth hormone.

• A. thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
• B. gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
• C. corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
• D. growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of the hypothalamus: The hypothalamus is a region in the brain that regulates various physiological processes by releasing specific hormones that act on the anterior pituitary gland.
2. Learn about the anterior pituitary: The anterior pituitary responds to signals from the hypothalamus by releasing hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress responses.
3. Identify the hormone involved in growth hormone release: Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is the specific hormone released by the hypothalamus to stimulate the anterior pituitary to release growth hormone (GH).
4. Differentiate between the other hormones: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). These are unrelated to growth hormone release.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), as it directly triggers the anterior pituitary to release growth hormone.