Functions of pituitary gland

This leaflet gives a brief overview of the pituitary gland and the hormones it makes. The pituitary gland is found at the base of the brain and is 'pea-sized'. The pituitary gland is an overall controller of a number of other glands in the body, overseeing the function of these organs through hormones. Pituitary Gland Disorders Signs, Symptoms, Treatment In this article • What is the pituitary gland? • Where is the pituitary gland located? • How does the pituitary gland work? • Some of the pituitary gland disorders • How are pituitary gland disorders diagnosed? • What is the treatment for pituitary glanddisorders? • Further more detailed information available free online What is the pituitary gland? The pituitary gland is located in the brain and is an endocrine gland. This means that it produces chemicals called hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers which help different organs in the body communicate with each other. The pituitary gland is one part of a messenger system. The pituitary gland helps to control your body's functions by releasing hormones into your bloodstream. These hormones are transported in your blood to their target. Here they usually cause the release of a second hormone. The target can either be specialised endocrine glands or other types of body tissue such as groups of cells. The pituitary gland is sometimes called the master gland because it controls several other hormone-releasing glands. Some of the glands the pituitary gland controls are the ...

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The pituitary gland is a small round structure located at the base of your brain. Despite being about the size of a pea, the pituitary gland is critical because it produces several essential hormones that act on other organs in the body to maintain overall well-being. If you develop a condition that affects the pituitary gland, learning more about its normal structure and function can help guide you on your journey through treatment and recovery. Because the pituitary gland controls many aspects of our health, it can be confusing to understand a diagnosis related to pituitary dysfunction. In this article, we will equip you with information about the pituitary gland itself, including its anatomy, how it works, the hormones associated with it, and what they do. The pituitary gland is sometimes referred to as the master gland because it is responsible for the release of many The hypothalamus is the part of your brain responsible for controlling parts of your nervous system and the release of hormones, including those secreted by your pituitary gland. When the hypothalamus receives chemical signals from your nerve cells, it reacts to these signals by triggering the release of pituitary hormones, whichin turnwill regulate your body's systems appropriately. Your pituitary gland alone releases eight different hormones to regulate specific bodily processes: The communication between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland is called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal a...

• The pituitary gland, sometimes called the “master gland,” produces hormones that enable other glands in the body to function. • Pituitary gland disorders include acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes insipidus, empty sella syndrome, hypopituitarism and pituitary tumors. • Pituitary problems can be caused by pituitary tumors, most of which are benign. Pituitary Disorders Pituitary conditions can affect sexual development, thyroid function, growth, skin pigmentation and adrenal function. Acromegaly Cushing’s Syndrome Diabetes Insipidus Empty Sella Syndrome Hypopituitarism Tumors Most The most common hormone produced by pituitary tumors is prolactin. Prolactin-producing tumors (prolactinomas) are more frequent in women. They can cause irregularity or loss of periods, infertility and breast milk secretion. In men, excessive prolactin can cause reduced libido and erectile dysfunction.

The posterior pituitary is the smaller of two lobes that make up your pituitary gland. It secretes vasopressin and oxytocin into your bloodstream — hormones that play a role in water balance, childbirth, and sexual activity, among others. The posterior pituitary is part of your In this article, we take a closer look at the location and function of the posterior pituitary. We also go over the conditions that can affect this organ. The pituitary gland is roughly the size and shape of a kidney bean, one-third of an inch in diameter. It weighs around 1 gram (0.03 ounces). The posterior pituitary is smaller than the anterior pituitary. Despite its tiny size, the posterior pituitary plays a crucial role in controlling various bodily functions. The posterior pituitary is responsible for storing and releasing the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin into your bloodstream. Production of these hormones takes place in your hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is connected to your pituitary gland through a stalk-like structure that contains nerve cells and blood vessels. Your hypothalamus sends vasopressin and oxytocin to the posterior pituitary through the blood vessels in the stalk. It also uses it to tell the posterior pituitary when they need to be released into your bloodstream. Disorders of the posterior pituitary affect its ability to store and release hormones. They’re most often caused by Generally, posterior pituitary disorders need treatment if they make your pituitary gland release...

• The pituitary gland is called the " Master Gland" because it directs a multitude of endocrine functions in the body. It regulates hormone activity in other endocrine glands and organs. • Pituitary activity is regulated by hormones of the hypothalamus, a brain region connected to the pituitary by the pituitary stalk. • The pituitary is composed of an anterior and posterior lobe with an intermediate region between the two. • Hormones of the anterior pituitary include adrenocorticotropin hormones (ACTH), growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). • Hormones stored by the posterior pituitary include antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin. • Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is an intermediate pituitary hormone. Hypothalamus-Pituitary Complex The pituitary gland and Pituitary Hormones The posterior pituitary lobe does not produce hormones but stores hormones produced by the hypothalamus. Posterior pituitary hormones include antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin. The anterior pituitary lobe produces six hormones that are either stimulated or inhibited by hypothalamic hormone secretion. The intermediate pituitary zone produces and secretes melanocyte-stimulating hormone. This image shows hormones of the pituitary and their affected organs. ttsz /iStock / Getty Images Plus Anterior Pituitary Hormones • Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH):stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the stress horm...

Diagnosis Pituitary tumors often aren't noticed or aren't detected. In many cases, that's because the symptoms caused by pituitary tumors that make hormones, called functioning adenomas, and large tumors, called macroadenomas, are similar to those of other medical conditions. It's also because they grow very slowly over time. Small pituitary tumors that don't make hormones, called nonfunctioning microadenomas, often don't cause symptoms. If they are detected, it's typically because of an imaging exam, such as an MRI or a CT scan, that's done for another reason. To detect and diagnose a pituitary tumor, your health care provider will likely talk with you about your personal and family medical history and do a physical exam. Testing to detect a pituitary tumor also may include: • Blood tests. Blood tests can show whether your body has too much or too little of certain hormones. For some hormones, blood test results that show too much of the hormone may be all that's needed for your health care provider to diagnose a pituitary adenoma. For other hormones, such as cortisol, a blood test result that shows too much of the hormone may need to be followed by other tests. Those tests can show if the earlier result was caused by a pituitary adenoma or by another health concern. Results that show hormone levels are too low need to be followed with other tests, usually imaging exams, to see if a pituitary adenoma may be the cause of those test results. • Urine tests. A urine test may ...