Which hormone is responsible for stimulating growth and is produced by the anterior pituitary?

The hormone responsible for stimulating growth and produced by the anterior pituitary is Human Growth Hormone (HGH). This peptide hormone plays a critical role in growth, cell repair, and metabolic functions throughout the body. It primarily stimulates growth in tissues, particularly in bones and muscles, by promoting protein synthesis and encouraging the utilization of fat stores for energy.

HGH activates various growth-related processes, including the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which mediates many of the growth-promoting effects of HGH in target tissues. Higher levels of HGH are present during childhood and adolescence, correlating with periods of rapid growth and development.

While follicle-stimulating hormone is involved in reproductive processes, insulin regulates glucose levels in the blood, and parathyroid hormone controls calcium and phosphate metabolism, none of these hormones have the growth-stimulating effects attributed to Human Growth Hormone.