Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. The statement “ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to release corticosteroid hormones” is:

Introduction / Context:
The endocrine system controls many body functions through hormones. ACTH, or adrenocorticotropic hormone, is one of the major hormones produced by the anterior pituitary gland. This question asks whether ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to release corticosteroid hormones, testing your understanding of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- ACTH is produced by the anterior pituitary. - The target organ in question is the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal glands. - Corticosteroid hormones include glucocorticoids such as cortisol and mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone. - We assume normal endocrine feedback systems in a healthy adult.

Concept / Approach:
The hypothalamus secretes corticotropin releasing hormone, which stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete ACTH. ACTH then travels via the bloodstream to the adrenal cortex, where it binds to receptors and stimulates the synthesis and release of glucocorticoids and some other corticosteroids. These hormones play important roles in stress response, metabolism, and maintenance of blood pressure. Therefore, the statement that ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to release corticosteroid hormones is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the source of ACTH: it is secreted by cells in the anterior pituitary gland. 2. Recognise that ACTH is part of a hormonal axis that links brain function to adrenal gland activity. 3. The adrenal glands have two main parts: the outer adrenal cortex and the inner adrenal medulla. 4. ACTH specifically targets the adrenal cortex, not the medulla, and stimulates it to produce corticosteroid hormones. 5. The main hormones released in response to ACTH are glucocorticoids such as cortisol, which regulate metabolism and stress responses. 6. This action confirms that ACTH does indeed stimulate the adrenal cortex to release corticosteroid hormones, making the statement correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
Clinical conditions support this understanding. In Addison disease, damage to the adrenal cortex leads to low cortisol levels and a compensatory rise in ACTH, because the pituitary continues to stimulate the cortex. In Cushing disease, a tumour in the pituitary produces excessive ACTH, leading to overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal cortex. These conditions would not occur in this way if ACTH did not control corticosteroid secretion, reinforcing the correctness of the statement.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Incorrect – ACTH has no role in regulating adrenal cortex hormone secretion: This directly contradicts established endocrine physiology. Without ACTH, adrenal cortical secretion of glucocorticoids falls sharply.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse ACTH with other pituitary hormones such as TSH, which targets the thyroid, or LH and FSH, which target the gonads. Others mix up the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla, attributing catecholamine release (adrenaline) to ACTH, when this is primarily controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. Remember that ACTH specifically targets the adrenal cortex and stimulates corticosteroid production, while the medulla releases adrenaline and noradrenaline in response to neural signals.

Final Answer:
The statement is correct: ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to release corticosteroid hormones.