The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (also HPTA) is a way of referring to the combined effects of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonads as if these individual endocrine glands were a single entity. Because these glands often behave in cooperation, physiologists and endocrinologists find it convenient and descriptive to speak of them as a single system.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is a critical part in the development and regulation of a number of the body's systems, such as the reproductive and immune systems.

See also

• Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

External links

• Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in abnormal testicular development
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis: immune function and autoimmunity. (abstract)