The pituitary gland is a tiny gland located in the sella turcica (‘Turkish saddle,’ a bony hollow behind the brain and behind the bridge of the nose) in the base of the skull. The anterior pituitary gland and the posterior pituitary gland are the two primary sections of the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls the gland’s activity, is connected to it. Short blood veins connect the anterior pituitary gland to the brain. The posterior pituitary gland is a component of the brain that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream in response to brain commands.
The function of my pituitary gland
The pituitary gland is known as the “master gland” because the hormones released by it regulate so many different activities in the body. It recognises the body’s needs and sends information to numerous organs and glands throughout the body to control their function and keep the environment healthy. It secretes several hormones into the bloodstream that act as messengers, conveying information from the pituitary gland to distant cells and directing their activity. For example, the pituitary gland secretes prolactin, which increases milk production in the breasts. The pituitary gland also secretes hormones that influence the adrenal glands, thyroid gland, ovaries, and testes, which all produce hormones in turn. Through hormone secretion, the pituitary gland governs metabolism, development, sexual maturation, reproduction, blood pressure, and many other vital physical activities and processes.
Hormones produced by pituitary gland
The anterior pituitary gland generates and releases the following hormones into the bloodstream:
1.The adrenal glands are stimulated to secrete steroid hormones, primarily cortisol, by adrenocorticotropic hormone.
2.Growth hormone is a hormone that controls body composition, metabolism, and growth.
3.Gonadotrophins include luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. They enhance sex hormone production and egg and sperm maturity by acting on the ovaries or testes.
4.prolactin is a hormone that promotes milk production.
5.Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) promotes thyroid hormone secretion by the thyroid gland.
Except for follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone, which are produced by the same cell, each of these hormones is produced by a different type of cell within the pituitary gland.
The hypothalamus makes two hormones, which are subsequently stored in the posterior pituitary gland before being released into the bloodstream. These are the following:
1.anti-diuretic hormone (also known as vasopressin) is a hormone that regulates fluid balance and blood pressure.
2.oxytocin-;a hormone that increases uterine contractions and milk flow during labour and breastfeeding.
The intermediate pituitary gland is located between the anterior and posterior pituitaries. The cells in this area produce:
1.Melanocyte-stimulating hormone is a hormone that stimulates the formation of melanin in skin cells.
Causes of pituitary gland to malfunction
The pituitary gland is a vital gland in the body, and the hormones it produces are responsible for a wide range of functions and govern the function of many other organs. This implies that depending on which hormone is impacted, the symptoms experienced when the pituitary gland ceases acting properly can vary.
There are three basic types of conditions that directly impact the pituitary gland:
1.The pituitary gland produces too much of one or more hormones as a result of certain conditions (s). Acromegaly, Cushing’s disease, and prolactinoma are examples.
2.Causes the pituitary gland to produce insufficient amounts of one or more hormones (s). Adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency, diabetes insipidus’ data-content=’1239′>diabetes insipidus, and hypopituitarism are only a few examples.
3.Conditions that cause the pituitary gland’s size and/or form to change. Empty sella syndrome is one example.
A cell type may divide and create a small benign lump known as a tumour, and the patient may then experience the side effects of too much of the hormone produced by the cell. Even if the tumour is still benign, it can compress nearby cells and stop them from operating (hypopituitarism), or push upwards and obstruct vision (visual field defect). Because the tumour affects the nerves that control eye movements, it can occasionally spread sideways and create double vision. It is important to note that these tumours rarely spread to other parts of the body, even when they are enormous.
Conclusion
We conclude that finally, the pituitary gland secretes a variety of hormones, each of which affects a different portion of the body (target organ). The pituitary gland is often referred to as the superior gland because it controls the activity of most other endocrine glands.