Physiological Functions of Growth Hormone All the major anterior pituitary hormones, except for growth hormone, exert their principal effects
by stimulating target glands, including thyroid gland, adrenal cortex, ovaries, testicles, and mammary
glands. The functions ofeach of these pituitary hormones are so intimately concerned with the
functions of the respective target glands that, except for growth hormone, their functions arediscussed
in subsequent chapters along with the target glands. Growth hormone, in contrast to other hormones,
does not function through a target gland but exerts itseffects directly on all or almost all tissues of the
body.
Growth Hormone Promotes Growthof Many