**Core Concept**
The hypothalamus synthesizes and releases neurohormones that regulate the pituitary gland, including corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), leading to cortisol production.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Cortisol-releasing hormone (CRH) is produced and secreted by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. It acts on the anterior pituitary to trigger ACTH release, which in turn stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol. This is a key part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, essential for stress response and metabolic regulation.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
Option A: Orexin is produced in the lateral hypothalamus and regulates wakefulness and appetite, not cortisol release.
Option C: "Neuropeptide" is too broad and non-specific; while the hypothalamus releases multiple neuropeptides, this choice lacks specificity and is not the correct answer.
Option D: Ghrelin is primarily secreted by the stomach and acts on the hypothalamus to stimulate hunger, not released from it.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
CRH is the primary driver of the HPA axis; its release is stimulated by stress and suppressed by negative feedback from cortisol. Clinically, CRH levels are elevated in conditions like Cushing’s disease and sepsis.

✓ Correct Answer: B. Cortisol releasing hormone