The hypothalamus regulates hormone production and secretion from the pituitary gland, which is often referred to as the "master gland" of the endocrine system. The pituitary gland secretes hormones that control various bodily functions such as growth, metabolism, and stress response.
The hypothalamus releases growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) to stimulate the pituitary gland to release growth hormone (GH). GH acts on the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which plays a key role in promoting growth throughout childhood and adolescence. Additionally, the hypothalamus regulates the timing of puberty by secreting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which stimulates the release of sex hormones that influence growth and development.