The pituitary gland is attached to the hypothalamus by a stalk known as the infundibulum, and sits in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone in the skull.  The anterior lobe of the pituitary is known as the adenohypophysis and the posterior lobe is the neurohypophysis.  The hormones released by the posterior pituitary are made by the hypothalamus.  Keep this in mind when taking the lab exam because it provides a valuable clue.  You may be asked with other endocrine tissues to identify a hormone that is secreted by the gland in question.  But if the slide is one of the posterior pituitary, it should not use the word "secrete" since the hormones are not produced by the pituicytes.

The Anterior Pituitary

The anterior pituitary has two regions: the pars anterior and the pars intermedia.  Nearly all of the hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary come from the pars anterior.  

Many of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland are tropic hormones.  A tropic hormone is one that stimulates another endocrine gland.  The tropic hormones, which are secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, include:

Thyrotropin (or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone = TSH):  Secreted by the pars anterior.  Stimulates the growth and development of the thyroid, and increased production of  T₃ and T₄.  

Adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): Secreted by the pars anterior.  Stimulates the growth and development of the adrenal cortex, and stimulates glucocorticoid and sortisol secretion.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)*:  Secreted by the pars anterior.  In females this hormone stimulates estrogen secretion by the ovaries which stimulates growth and development of the follicle.  In males FSH causes growth and development of the seminiferous tubules in the testes.

Luteninzing Hormone (LH)*: Secreted by the pars anterior.  In females this hormone regulates the menstrual cycle.  

Interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH) stimulates testosterone production by the interstitial cells of the testes in males.

*Together, FSH and either LH or ICSH are often referred to as the gonadotropic hormones.

Other hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary include:

Growth Hormone: Secreted by the pars anterior.  Stimulates body growth.

Prolactin: Secreted by the pars anterior.  This hormone stimulates breast development and milk production.  Together with LH, it also maintains the corpus luteum.

Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH):  Secreted by pars intermedia.  Stimulates the production of melanin by melanocytes.

The Posterior Pituitary

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH):  Causes the distal tubules in the kidneys to reabsorb water, decreasing urine output.

Oxytocin:  Stimulates uterine contractions and causes ejection of milk into the ducts of the breast.

The Hypothalamus

The hormones secreted by the hypothalamus are releasing and inhibitory hormones, which pretty much tell you what they do by their name.

Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH)

Growth Hormone Inhibitory Hormone (GHIH): Also called somatostatin

Thyrotropin Releasing Hormne (TRH)

Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH)

Prolactin Releasing Hormone (PRH)

Prolactin Inhibitory Hormone (PIH)

Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH)

The Pineal Body

Melatonin: Inhibits LH; causes sleepiness

Adrenoglomerulotropin: Targets the Zona Glomerulosa of the Adrenal Cortex, stimulating aldosterone secretion.