Why hypothalamus is called master of master gland

Anatomy of the pituitary gland The pituitary gland is sometimes called the "master" gland of the endocrine system because it controls the functions of many of the other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland is no larger than a pea, and is located at the base of the brain. The gland is attached to the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that affects the pituitary gland) by nerve fibers and blood vessels. The pituitary gland itself consists of 2 major structures: • Anterior lobe • Posterior lobe Functions of the pituitary gland Each lobe of the pituitary gland makes certain hormones. Anterior lobe • Growth hormone • Prolactin (to stimulate milk production in the female breast) • ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone which regulates the • TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone which regulates the • FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone which regulates the ovaries and testes) • LH (luteinizing hormone which regulates the ovaries or testes) Posterior lobe • ADH (antidiuretic hormone is actually produced in the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland; it increases absorption of water by the kidneys. It also increases blood pressure) • Oxytocin (to contract the uterus during childbirth and stimulate the release of milk during breastfeeding)

Share on Pinterest Ruben Tresserras/Getty Images The hypothalamus’ main role is to keep the body in The hypothalamus works between the endocrine and nervous systems. The As different systems and parts of the body send signals to the brain, they can alert the hypothalamus to any unbalanced factors that need addressing. The hypothalamus responds by stimulating relevant endocrine activity to address this balance. For example, if the hypothalamus receives a signal that the It also plays a role in: • • thirst • • • • • • childbirth • To maintain homeostasis, the hypothalamus This includes the thyroid and parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries (in females), and testis (in males). The endocrine system is responsible for maintaining Interaction with the pituitary gland In conjunction with the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus secretes the following hormones: • • Corticotropin-releasing horm • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone: This causes the pituitary gland to release hormones that keep the sexual organs for both men and women working properly. • • • The hypothalamus also directly influences A The hypothalamus also serves the vital purpose of signaling that the pituitary gland should release hormones to the rest of the endocrine system. As it is difficult for doctors to diagnose a specific, incorrectly functioning gland, these disorders are often called In these cases, there are some hormone tests that doctors might order to get to the root of the disorder. Some hypot...

These glands work synergistically to control many functions in the body. Many children today experience symptoms because their hormones are out-of-balance or out-of-sync with one another. Hormones have their individual functions, but they may not be able to do their jobs if they are not in balance or in sync with other hormones in the body. Any hormone out-of-sync disrupts all the other hormones and their functioning. Hormones are very complex and sensitive to diet and toxins. Let’s look at each of these important glands. Hypothalamus The hypothalamus is often called the “master gland” because one of its most important functions is to link the nervous system to the endocrine system (hormonal) which it does by controlling the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus synthesizes and secretes neurohormones that stimulate or inhibit the secretion of pituitary hormones which in turn aids the hypothalamus in controlling: • Body temperature • Hunger • Thirst • Fatigue • Emotions • Growth • Salt and water (electrolyte) balance • Sleep • Weight • Circadian cycles • Olfactory (sense of smell) stimuli • Stress • Rage • Survival • Sexual activity • Changes in body temperature caused by infection • Appetite regulating hormones such as leptin and ghrelin, insulin and glucose. The hypothalamus may malfunction with: • Anorexia • Bulimia • Malnutrition • Too much iron • Bleeding • Head traumas • Infections • Inflammation • Genetic disorders • Tumors • Radiation • Surgery What supports the hypotha...

Which endocrine gland links the endocrine system and the nervous system? The hypothalamus is the endocrine gland that links the endocrine and nervous systems. It controls many of the pituitary hormone levels and also controls body water levels. The hypothalamus is located in the brain.the thyriod gland

Hormone control is a complex process, but some simple parts of the process are understood. The “command center” seems to lie in a central part of the brain just below the oldest, most central structure, the thalamus. To locate the thalamus, if you haven’t been there yet, take the As you’ll remember, the thalamus is that central yellow structure. Just below it, then, is where we look for the command center: the “hypo-thalamus” (literally, the under-thalamus). However, these structures are right in the very center of the brain, so to see them, we need to look at a brain with one half removed. Imagine if the brain in the picture above was cut from the front to the back, on a line from “nose” to the center of the back of the head (medical students know this as a “saggital section”). Here’s what you’d see: you’re right in the center of the brain. To keep you oriented, there’s a rough outline of the thalamus position in yellow. All the colored parts below are the separate segments of the hypothalamus: The thalamus itself does not appear because we are directly in the center of the brain in this drawing, where the thalamus narrows to a small bridge. You can see that bridge cut cross-ways marked by the yellow dot. Here’s a bigger, clearer view. Notice that the many parts of the hypothalamus all the colored pieces) sit directly above a stalk of tissue hanging down that looks like an odd shaped golf club — that’s the pituitary gland. The pituitary is the first lieutenant to the comm...

Endocrine and exocrine glands serve very different purposes in the body. Endocrine glands Endocrine glands are part of your endocrine system. They make hormones and release them into your bloodstream. These hormones control a number of important functions in your body, such as: • your growth and development • metabolism • mood • reproduction Your endocrine glands include: • • • • • There are also organs that contain endocrine tissue and act as glands. These include the: • • • • Exocrine glands Your exocrine glands produce other substances — not hormones — that are released through ducts to the exterior of your body, such as sweat, saliva, and tears. The substances released by your exocrine glands play important roles in your body. They do things like help regulate your body temperature, protect your skin and eyes, and even help mothers feed babies by producing breast milk. Your exocrine glands include: • salivary • sweat • • sebaceous • lacrimal Lymph nodes are often referred to as glands, but they’re not true glands. They’re part of your You have glands throughout your body, all varying in size and function. Here are a few examples of these glands and what they do. Thyroid gland Your thyroid gland is located in the front of your neck, just below your larynx. It measures approximately two inches and has a shape similar to a butterfly. It secretes hormones that affect virtually every tissue in your body. Thyroid hormones regulate your metabolism, heart, and digestive functi...

Why is the hypothalamus called the master gland? Glands: Glands are a group of organs throughout our body that belong to the endocrine system. Glands are responsible for the secretion of hormones that have many different roles in the body, such as controlling metabolism, growth, sexual development, and sleep cycles. Answer and Explanation: 1