It is quite small — about the size of a pea. The pituitary gland is an important part of the hormonal system. It makes many different hormones. Some of these hormones have direct effects on the body, and others control the actions of other glands that produce hormones.
The pituitary is controlled in 2 ways: by signals from the part of the brain called the hypothalamus, and by sensing levels of other hormones in the body. The pituitary gland can become disturbed and make too much or too little of a hormone. It can also be the site of a tumour, which can cause problems by squashing the surrounding brain tissue. Most tumours in the pituitary gland are not cancerous and only cause problems when they change hormone levels or take up too much space.
You can read more about possible disorders of the pituitary gland on the Australian Pituitary Foundation website or Hormones Australia website. Learn more about the endocrine system and the different hormones released by the endocrine glands. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. What hormones are produced by the pituitary gland? Read more on Hormones Australia website. Growth hormone deficiency is a rare condition where the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone GH.
About the Pituitary Gland. Also in the section Location of the Pituitary Gland The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain, behind the bridge of the nose. The arrow indicates the location of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Anatomy of the Pituitary Gland The pituitary has two lobes, the anterior and the posterior lobe.
Vasopressin is also known as antidiuretic hormone ADH. It acts on the kidney to conserve water and is important in fluid and electrolyte balance. Oxytocin stimulates the contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus, which is important during childbirth.
Oestrogen Ovaries Oestrogen facilitates growth of the tissues of the sex organs and other tissues related to reproduction. Oestrogen also acts to strengthen bones and has a protective effect on the heart. Progesterone Ovaries Progesterone promotes the changes in the uterus that occur in preparation for the implantation of a fertilised ovum and prepares the breasts for milk production.
Testosterone Testes Testosterone is responsible for the characteristics of the masculine body, including hair growth on the face and body and muscle development. Testosterone is essential for the production of sperm and also acts to strengthen bones. For more information about glands and hormones, as well as educational resources, visit the Society for Endocrinology's 'You and Your Hormones' website Also in this section What is the pituitary gland?
Pituitary conditions Symptoms, diagnosis and tests Treatments for pituitary conditions Living with a pituitary condition Adrenal insufficiency and adrenal crisis Publications Related links Research Endocrine glands Hormones Webinars Membership. Stimulates the adrenal gland to produce a hormone called cortisol. Stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete its own hormone, which is called thyroxine.
Controls reproductive functioning and sexual characteristics. Stimulates the breasts to produce milk. Stimulates growth and repair. Controls the blood fluid and mineral levels in the body by affecting water retention by the kidneys. Because the pituitary controls the function of most other endocrine glands, it is often called the master gland. Adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH. Adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH , also called corticotropin , which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol and other hormones.
Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone the gonadotropins , which stimulate the testes to produce sperm, the ovaries to produce eggs, and the sex organs to produce sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. Growth hormone, which regulates growth and physical development and has important effects on body shape by stimulating muscle formation and reducing fat tissue.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone, which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. The anterior lobe also produces several other hormones, including one that causes the skin to darken beta-melanocyte—stimulating hormone and ones that inhibit pain sensations enkephalins and endorphins and help control the immune system endorphins.
Fat tissue has a lower percentage of water than lean tissue and women tend to have more fat, so the percentage Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract during childbirth and immediately after delivery to prevent excessive bleeding. Oxytocin also stimulates contractions of the milk ducts in the breast, which move milk to the nipple the let-down in lactating women. Oxytocin has some additional roles in both men and women. The pituitary gland can malfunction in several ways, usually as a result of developing a noncancerous tumor adenoma.
The tumor may overproduce one or more pituitary hormones, or the tumor may press on the normal pituitary cells, causing underproduction of one or more pituitary hormones. The tumor may also cause enlargement of the pituitary gland Enlargement of the Pituitary Gland Enlargement of the pituitary gland is usually due to a tumor but may be due to bleeding into the gland or involvement by some other disease, such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis.
In some cases Sometimes there is overproduction of one hormone by a pituitary tumor and underproduction of another at the same time due to pressure. Sometimes excess cerebrospinal fluid can fill the space around the pituitary gland and compress it resulting in empty sella syndrome Empty Sella Syndrome In empty sella syndrome, the sella turcica the bony structure at the base of the brain that houses the pituitary gland fills with cerebrospinal fluid, partially or completely compressing the The pressure may cause the pituitary to overproduce or underproduce hormones.
Acromegaly or gigantism Gigantism and Acromegaly Overproduction of growth hormone causes excessive growth. In children, the condition is called gigantism. In adults, it is called acromegaly. Excessive growth hormone is almost always caused Cushing disease Cushing Syndrome In Cushing syndrome, the level of corticosteroids is excessive, usually due to taking corticosteroid drugs or overproduction by the adrenal glands. Cushing syndrome usually results from taking
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