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HPA Axis Interlock

Meaning

The HPA Axis Interlock refers to the tightly regulated, intricate, and reciprocal inhibitory and stimulatory connections that exist between the three central components of the body’s primary stress response system: the Hypothalamus, the Pituitary gland, and the Adrenal glands. This essential interlock forms a powerful negative feedback loop where the final product, the glucocorticoid cortisol, signals back to the hypothalamus and pituitary to suppress the further release of their respective stimulating hormones, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH). This complex system is the core of the body’s allostatic capacity and its adaptive response to both acute and chronic stress.