Pituitary gland

Approximately size of a grape

(master gland)
Located on the inferior surface of the
hypothalamus of the brain
a. Anterior pituitary glandular
tissue
b. Posterior pituitary nervous
tissue

Pituitary system (Posterior pituitary)

Connected to the hypothalamus by a
stalk
Release oxytocin & vasopressin
(ADH)
General function of posterior lobe:
1. increase blood pressure
2. prevent excessive secretion of
urine
3. stimulate contraction in muscles
of the uterus
Oxytocin
ADH (antidiuretic hormone)
It causes kidneys to reabsorb more
water from the forming urine, thus
urine volume decrease & blood
volume increases
In large ADH, increase blood
pressure by causing construction of
the arterioles
Drinking alcoholic beverage inhibits
ADH secretion & results in large
amount of urine
Hyposecretion: diabetes insipidus
excessive urine output
Anterior
Growth hormone
Prolactin
Thyrotropic
Adrenocorticotropic
Gonadotropic hormones
Growth hormone
Effect is directed to the growth of
skeletal muscles & long bones of the
body

Hyposecretion: pituitary dwarfism

(adult height of 4 feet)
Hypersecretion: gigantism (8-9 feet)
Acromegaly occurs after long
bone growth has ended, particularly
the lower jaw & the bony ridges

Abnormalities associated with GH

Decrease secretion: before puberty
Pituitary dwarfism cute dwarf
(proportional body structure)
Achondroblastic dwarf no GH
receptor, abnormal growth of
cartilage
Cretinism normal growth hormone
levels but thyroid hormone is
deficient (ugly dwarf-cretin)
Increase secretion of GH
- short life span leading to suffer
hyperglycemia & ketosis due to
metabolic effects of hormones
- before puberty gigantism
- after puberty acromegaly lateral
growth, spade like hands & feet
- prognantism enlargement of jaw /
mandible
- macroglossia enlargement of the
tongue
Prolactin
Known target in human is the breast
After birth, it stimulates & maintains
milk production by the mothers
breast
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
It regulates the endocrine activity of
the cortex portion of the adrenal
gland
Melanocyte stimulating hormone
MSH may resemble ACTH &
responsible for the darkening &
pigmentation of the skin
(addisons dse & nelsons dse since
there is hypersecretion of ACTH)
Target cells are the melanocyte

Luteinizing Hormone
LH aka lutropin is a hormone
produced by the anterior pituitary
gland
In the female, an acute rise of LH
the LH surge triggers ovulation
In the male, where LH had also been
called Interstitial Cells Stimulating
Hormone (ICSH), it stimulates leydig
cells for production of testosterone
FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone)
FSH is a hormone synthesized &
secreted by gonadotropes in the
anterior pituitary gland
FSH regulates the development,
growth, pubertal maturation, &
reproductive processes of the
human body
FSH & LH act synergistically in
reproduction

Pineal gland
A lobe in the forebrain, secretes
melatonin hormone
In mammals, the amount of light
influence the pineals secretion of
melatonin in an inverse relationship,
the more light the less melatonin
Melatonin in turn inhibits release of
gonadotrophic hormones
Thyroid gland
Located in the front of & each side
of the thyroid cartilage of the larynx
The hormone stimulates general
metabolism & growth
Increase sensitivity of various
organs especially the CNS
Has pronounced effect on the
change from infantile to adult form
Controlled by anterior lobe of the
pituitary