The hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary glandThe hypothalamus is a part of the brain that directly controls the release of hormones from the pituitary gland. These hormones are called regulatory hormones. They are considered regulatory hormones because they are molecules secreted into the blood to regulate the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones (McKinley 669). Regulatory hormones are produced in the hypothalamus and travel to the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland; thereby affecting the target organs to produce certain functions in the body, and Graves' disease is linked to this process. The anterior pituitary gland is an endocrine gland controlled by the hypothalamus in several different ways. Release and release inhibition hormones are synthesized in the paraventricular, periventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. They control the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones. The paravocellular neurons of these nuclei send their axons into the tuberoinfundibular tract and terminate in a capillary bed of the superior pituitary arteries located around the base of the median eminence. A given paravocellular neuron can release one or more releasing factors into capillaries that fuse into six to ten small straight veins that form the pituitary bloodstream-portal that descends along the infundibular stem and forms a second capillary plexus around the anterior pituitary gland. The releasing hormones gain access to the five distinct types of target cells in the anterior pituitary gland and return to the capillary bed which then flows into the systemic circulation and transports the hormones to peripheral target tissues. Target tissues are stimulated to produce final mediating hormones that induce physiological effects, weight loss and hair breakage. This disease cannot be cured but controlled (Nordquist). In conclusion, the body is a complex structure that is largely controlled by the hypothalamus. In these different functions, however, hormones and the anterior pituitary fulfill specific roles so that the body maintains homeostasis; if any part of these functions becomes uncontrollable, then the body will develop various diseases or abnormalities such as Graves' disease. Works Cited Dougherty, Patrick. Hypothalamic control of pituitary hormone. Neuroscience.UTHealth. and Web. January 26, 2014.McKinley, Micheal, O'Loughlin and Bidle Theresa. Anatomy and physiology, an integrative approach. New York: McGraw Hill, 2013. Print. Nordicist, Christian. “What is Graves’ disease?” What are the causes of Graves' disease. MNT website. Np and Web. January 26. 2014.