The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (hpa) axis becomes activated by a stressor. the hypothalamus produces corticotropin-releasing hormone which tells the anterior pituitary to produce adrenocorticotropic hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormones stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. cortisol concentrations rise and this hormone binds to receptors on the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary and tells the body to decrease the production of corticotropin-releasing hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone. based on this information, the hpa axis is under the control of….