The pituitary gland by virtue of its tropic hormones controls the secretory activity of other endocrine glands. Which one of the following endocrine glands can function independent of the pituitary gland?

1. The pituitary gland produces tropic hormones (like TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH) that control the secretory activity of several other endocrine glands. 2. The Thyroid gland is stimulated by TSH from the pituitary. 3. The Gonads (ovaries and testes) are stimulated by FSH and LH from the pituitary. 4. The Adrenal cortex is stimulated by ACTH from the pituitary. 5. The Parathyroid glands, however, primarily regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the blood by secreting Parathyroid Hormone (PTH). The secretion of PTH is mainly controlled directly by the concentration of calcium ions in the blood, not by tropic hormones from the pituitary gland. Hence, the parathyroid can function largely independent of the pituitary gland's control.