Athletic Training Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Exam Prep Guide

The pituitary gland plays a crucial role in regulating various hormonal functions throughout the body. Its primary purpose is to secrete hormones that control other glands, including the thyroid and reproductive glands, which manage the production of estrogen and testosterone.

The correct choice emphasizes that the pituitary gland does not increase calcium levels in the blood. This function is primarily regulated by the parathyroid glands and involves hormones like parathyroid hormone (PTH), which works to elevate calcium levels when they are low. In contrast, calcitonin, produced by the thyroid gland, helps lower calcium levels.

In terms of the other options, the pituitary gland does indeed play a significant role in increasing thyroid function through the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). It also stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and the testes to produce testosterone via luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Therefore, these actions are within the functions of the pituitary gland, while the increase of calcium levels is not.