THE PITUITARY

GLAND
The pituitary gland is a
small pea-sized gland that
plays a major role in
regulating vital body
functions and general
wellbeing. It is referred to
as the body’s “master
gland” because it controls
the activity of most other
hormone-secreting
glands.
 The Pituitary Gland controls the:

• thyroid gland
• adrenal gland
• ovaries and testicles
Hormonal Control of the Anterior Pituitary
• Anterior
Pituitary
- Synthesizes
hormones
- Secretion is
under control of
hypothalamus.
 Direct Innervation of the Posterior Pituitary

Posterior
Pituitary
- Storage
location for two
hormones
HORMONES OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY
Growth Hormone (GH)
stimulates the growth of bones, muscles and other
organs by increasing gene expression
resists protein breakdown and favors lipid
breakdown
little growth hormone secretion can result
abnormal development of pituitary gland
Pituitary Dwarf- deficiency of growth hormone
 Giantism
-presence of excess growth hormone before bones finish growing in length
-a person becomes abnormally tall

 Acromegaly
-excess hormone is secreted after growth in bone length is complete
-growth continues in bone diameter only
-results facial features and hand becomes abnormally large

 Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) or somatomedins

-group of protein hormones
-GH increases IGF secretion from the liver
-IGF molecules bind to receptors on the cells of tissues (bone and cartilage)
where they stimulate growth
 Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
-binds to cell membrane bound receptors on cells of the thyroid gland
-stimulates secretion thyroid hormone
-stimulate the growth of the thyroid gland
-rate of secretion is regulated by a releasing hormone from the hypothalamus

 Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)

-binds to membrane receptors on adrenal cortex cells
-increases secretion of a hormone from the adrenal cortex called
cortisol/hydrocortisone
-required to keep adrenal cortex from degenerating
-its molecules bind to melanocytes in the skin and increase skin pigmentation
-too much ACTH can cause darkening of the skin
-rate of secretion is regulated by releasing hormone from the hypothalamus
Gonadotropins
-bind to membrane receptors on the cells of the gonads
(ovaries and testes)
-regulates the growth, development and functions of the
gonads
• leutinizing hormone (LH) in females
-stimulates ovulation
-promotes secretion of estrogen and progesterone from ovaries
• leutinizing hormones (LH) in males
-referred to interstitial cellistimulating hormone
-stimulates interstitial cells of testes to secrete testosterone
 Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
-stimulates the development of follicles in the ovaries and sperm
cells in the testes

 Prolactin
-binds to membrane -bound receptors in cells of breast
-helps promote development of breast during pregnancy and
stimulates production of milk

 Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)

-binds to membrane bound receptors on melanocytes
-synthesize melanin
HORMONES OF THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY
 HORMONES OF THE POSTERIOR PITUITARY

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

-also known as vasopressin), the majority of which is released
from the supraoptic nucleus in the hypothalamus.

Oxytocin
-stimulates the uterine muscles to contract and also increases
production of prostaglandins, which increase the contractions
further.
HORMONES OF THE POSTERIOR PITUITARY