Chapter 18: Pituitary Gland
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
a gonadotropic hormone; stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries, the production of hormones, and ovulation; in men, it stimulates the testes to produce testosterone.
Pituitary Gland
also called the hypophysis; a small, pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain in a small, pocket-like depression in the skull called the sella turcica; well-protected gland with the entire mass of the brain above it and the nasal cavity below; composed of two distinct parts: anterior lobe (adenohypophysis) and the posterior lobe (neurohypophysis)
Anterior Lobe/ adenohypophysis
composed of glandular epithelial tissue; 5 major hormones produced here: growth hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (STH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), gonadotropic hormones, prolactin (PRL).
Posterior Lobe/ neurohypophysis
composed of nervous tissue; 2 important hormones: antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin (OT).
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
from Posterior pituitary gland; also called vasopressin; stimulates the reabsorption of water by the kidney tubules; also increases blood pressure by constricting arterioles.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
from anterior pituitary gland; or adrenocorticotropin; stimulates the growth of the adrenal cortex and increases the secretion of steroid hormones (primarily cortisol).
Growth Hormone (GH)
from anterior pituitary gland; or somatotropin (STH); promotes protein synthesis that results in the growth of bones, muscles and other tissues. GH also stimulates the liver to make insulin-like growth factor, which stimulates the growth of bones; it increases blood glucose levels and is secreted during exercise, sleep, and hypoglycemia.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
from anterior pituitary gland; or thyrotropin; stimulates the growth of the thyroid gland and secretion of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
Gonadotropic hormones
from anterior pituitary gland; several influence the growth and hormone secretion of the ovaries in females and the testes in males.
Prolactin (PRL)
from anterior pituitary gland; stimulates breast development during pregnancy and sustains milk production after birth.
"Master Gland"
name often given to the pituitary gland because it makes hormones that control several other endocrine glands.
Hypothalamus
region under the thalamus and above the pituitary gland; signals transmitted from the hypothalamus control the secretions by the pituitary gland; special secretory neurons in the hypothalamus send releasing and inhibiting factors (hormones) via capillaries to the anterior pituitary gland
Oxytocin (OT)
stimulates the uterus to contract during childbirth and maintains labor during childbirth; also secreted during suckling and causes the production of milk from the mammary glands.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
a gonadotropic hormone; stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries, the production of hormones, and ovulation; in men, it influences the production of sperm.
