Which of the following hormones is NOT secreted from the anterior pituitary?

Appeared in: AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Explanation

Oxytocin is not secreted by the anterior pituitary gland.
It is a hormone that is synthesized in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.
After synthesis, it is transported down axons to the posterior pituitary, where it is stored and released into the bloodstream.
Its primary functions are to stimulate uterine contractions during labor and facilitate milk ejection (let-down reflex) during breastfeeding.

Option A: Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is incorrect because it is synthesized and secreted by the corticotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland.
Option B: Prolactin (PRL) is incorrect as it is produced and secreted by the lactotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland.
Option C: Human growth hormone (GH) is incorrect because it is a peptide hormone synthesized and secreted by the somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Hormones of the Pituitary Gland as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the origin of hormones is crucial for diagnosing endocrine disorders. For example, a tumor in the anterior pituitary could cause an overproduction of ACTH (leading to Cushing's disease) or GH (leading to acromegaly), but it would not directly affect oxytocin levels.
What if? If a patient presented with symptoms of excessive thirst and urination (polyuria), a dysfunction of the posterior pituitary (specifically, deficient Antidiuretic Hormone/ADH) leading to Diabetes Insipidus would be suspected, rather than an anterior pituitary issue.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative keyword 'NOT'. This signals that you must find the option that is an exception.
Second, recall the hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary. A common mnemonic is 'FLAT PEG': Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Prolactin (PRL), and Growth hormone (GH).
Third, systematically evaluate each option against your recalled list.
Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), Prolactin, and Human growth hormone are all present in the 'FLAT PEG' mnemonic, confirming they are from the anterior pituitary.
Oxytocin is not part of the mnemonic. Recall that Oxytocin and ADH are released from the posterior pituitary.
Therefore, Oxytocin is the correct answer as it is the one NOT secreted from the anterior pituitary.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Hormones of the Pituitary Gland
Stem keywords: hormones, secreted, anterior pituitary
Lead-in keywords: NOT
Negative lead-in flag: The question uses negative framing ('NOT'), asking to identify the exception among the options.

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Practise the full AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.