1. Diego Cano
Veterans Memorial High School
Anatomy and Physiology
Mrs. Campbell
March 23, 2023
The Pituitary Gland
Picture Cite
2. Location/Appearance of
the Pituitary Gland
Suspended
from a stem
called the
infundibulum,
or pituitary
stalk
Gland is
cradled within
the sellaturica
of the sphenoid
bone of the
skull (site)
Consists of
two lobes:
an
anterior
and
posterior
lobe (site)
4. Action of the
Hormone
ACTH - stimulates the formation of steroid hormones in the adrenal gland, such as
cortisol.
LH - stimulates the testosterone production
FSH - males, uncertain but may work with testosterone for normal sperm production. In
females, LH is a major regulator of ovarian hormone synthesis and oocyte maturation.
FSH plays a critical role in follicle growth and in regulating estrogen production in the
ovary.
Growth Hormone - growth promotion
ADH - causes water retention in the kidneys
Oxytocin - causes contractions of the uterus, utilized for the induction and
augmentation of labor, as well as for prevention and treatment of postpartum
hemorrhage. Also involved in lactation.
Prolactin - Prolactin causes breast enlargement and break milk production. It also
inhibits gonadal (sex hormone) activity by its influence on the hypothalamus,
decreasing the release of growth-hormone releasing hormone (GnRh), and
subsequently lutenizing hormone.
TSH - leads to increased formation and secretion of the hormone tetraiodothyronine
(t4) (site 2021)
5. Hypopituitarism
Hyperpituitarism
deficiency of one or more of the
hormones produced by the
pituitary gland(site 2022).
excessive secretion of production of
one or more of the hormones
produced by the pituitary gland
(site 2022).
Hypo/Hyper Disease
6. Hypopituitarism
Hyperpituitarism
ACTH deficiency - Adrenal insufficiency
TSH deficiency - Hypothyroidism
Gonadotropin deficiency - Hypogonadism
GH deficiency - Difficult to thrive and short stature in children.
Adults are usually asymptomatic; however, they may feel
fatigued and weak.
ADH deficiency - Diabetes Insipidus presenting with
polydipsia and polyuria (site 2022)
Excessive GH - leads to acromegaly in adults and gigantism
in children
Excessive ACTH - leads to Cushing’s Disease; causes obesity,
menstrual abnormalities and increased blood pressure
(site 2022)
Hypo/Hyper Diseases
7. Common causes of Dysfunction
Genetic mutations and dysfunction play a significant role in
tumorigenesis, or the formation of tumors, which are the
most common cause of hypopituitarism(61%) (site 2022)
Infiltrative diseases such as hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis,
and histiocytosis may be associated with the development
of hypopituitarism. (site 2022)
Prolactinomas, or Prolactin-secreting tumors, causes too
much prolactin to be released. (site 2022)
8. Prolactinomas (Prolactin-secreting tumors) are the
most frequent secretory tumors of the pituitary gland
accounting for at least 40% of all pituitary tumors. (site
2022)
Oxytocin, a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, is
thought to be involved in feelings of love and
closeness, as well as in sexual response. (site)
Interesting Information
9. Location/Appearance of the Pituitary Gland -
http://pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/anatomyandphysiology/chapter/the-pituitary-gland
-and-hypothalamus/
Hormones produced - https://ccpd.ucsf.edu/pituitary-hormones
Action of the Hormones - https://ccpd.ucsf.edu/pituitary-hormones 2021
Hypo/Hyper Diseases - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470414/ (Hypo 2022)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482233/ (Hyper 2022)
Common Causes of Dysfunction - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470414/ 2022
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482233/ 2022
Interesting Information - Hyperpituitarism - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov) 2022
The Pituitary Gland and Hypothalamus – Anatomy & Physiology (hawaii.edu)
Sources
