How many hormones are primarily secreted by the pituitary gland, including HGH and TSH?

The pituitary gland, often referred to as the "master gland," plays a crucial role in regulating various hormonal functions in the body. It is responsible for the secretion of a variety of hormones that influence growth, metabolism, and reproductive processes.

The pituitary gland has two main parts: the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary produces several important hormones, including human growth hormone (HGH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), cortisol, prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In total, the anterior pituitary secretes at least six hormones.

Additionally, the posterior pituitary releases oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH), adding to the overall count of hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. Consequently, when considering both the anterior and the posterior, the total number of hormones released is eight. This inclusion of both parts of the gland is necessary to arrive at the correct total.

Therefore, the answer indicating that the pituitary gland primarily secretes eight hormones is accurate.