PITUITARY GLAND

ALLAN JOHN SABU

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
MASC
Pituitary Gland [INTRODUCTION]

 Pituitary gland (also known as hypophysis) is a small,

pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain
below your hypothalamus. It sits in its own little chamber
under your brain known as the sella turcica. It’s a part of
your endocrine system and is in charge of making
several essential hormones. Your pituitary gland also tells
other endocrine system glands to release hormones.
Structure Of Pituitary Gland
Anterior Lobe

 The anterior lobe (adenohypophysis) is derived from an outpouching of

the roof of the pharynx, called Rathke’s pouch. It is composed of
glandular epithelium and secretes a number of hormones. The lobe can
be further divided into three parts:


 Pars anterior – the largest part, responsible for hormone secretion.

 Pars intermedia – a thin epithelial layer that separates the pars anterior
from the posterior lobe.
 Pars tuberalis – an upwards extension of the pars anterior that surrounds
the anterolateral aspect of the infundibulum.
Posterior Lobe

 The posterior lobe (neurohypophysis) consists of nervous tissue. It arises from

the embryonic forebrain, and is, in essence, an extension of the
hypothalamus
 Upon stimulation, the posterior lobe secretes two hormones – ADH
(responsible for control of blood osmolarity), and oxytocin (involved in
parturition and milk secretion). Both of these substances are produced in
the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus and then
subsequently stored in the posterior pituitary gland, ready for release.
Hormones Produced by Pituitary Gland

Anterior Pituitary
Produces six main hormones:
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): stimulates the adrenal gland to release
stress hormones, especially cortisol. Under stressful conditions, cortisol is
released in high amounts in the blood and regulates the body’s reaction to
stress. In particular, cortisol increases glucose metabolism, regulates blood
pressure, and reduces inflammation. In addition, cortisol plays a central role in
fight or flight response, which is an adaptive response of the body to
perceived threats.
 Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone that regulates the body’s development,
growth, and reproductive processes. It’s produced by the anterior pituitary gland in
response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus. FSH plays a
role in sexual development and reproduction in both males and females:
 Females
 FSH acts on the ovaries to make follicles and eggs grow, and it also helps produce estrogen.
In women, FSH levels can vary depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle. For
example, normal levels are 1.4 to 9.9 mIU/mL during the follicular phase, 6.2 to 17.2 mIU/mL
during the ovulatory peak, and 1.1 to 9.2 mIU/mL during the luteal phase. After menopause,
FSH levels can rise to 19.3 to 100.6 mIU/mL.
 Males
 FSH acts on the testes to make sperm, and it also helps induce and maintain
spermatogenesis. Normal FSH levels in males vary depending on their age:
 Before puberty: 0 to 5.0 mIU/mL
 During puberty: 0.3 to 10.0 mIU/mL
 Adult: 1.5 to 12.4 mIU/
.
 Growth hormone (GH): this hormone stimulates growth in children and participates in
maintaining various body tissues/organs in adults, including bones, liver, and fat and
muscle tissues. In adults, the overproduction of GH causes acromegaly, which is
characterized by increased bone size. In children, too much GH causes gigantism, a
condition of abnormal growth.
 Prolactin: This is a hormone that’s responsible for lactation, certain breast tissue
development and contributes to hundreds of other bodily processes. Prolactin levels
are normally low in people assigned male at birth (AMAB) and non-lactating and
non-pregnant people. They’re normally elevated in people who are pregnant or
breastfeeding.
 Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH):Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) – a glycoprotein
that stimulates the production and secretion of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) by the
thyroid gland. The thyroid hormones play a vital role in regulating metabolism,
energy homeostasis, growth, and nervous system activities. An overproduction of TSH
leads to hyperthyroidism, whereas a lack of TSH causes hypothyroidism
 Posterior Pituitary
 Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): Also known as vasopressin, ADH helps
regulate water balance and sodium levels in the body. It controls how
much water the kidneys reabsorb while filtering waste from the blood. ADH
is important for fluid and electrolyte balance. Low levels of ADH can cause
diabetes insipidus, which makes it difficult for the kidneys to conserve
water. Symptoms include excessive thirst and increased urination.
 Oxytocin:Like ADH, oxytocin is also synthesized in the supraoptic and paraventricular
nuclei of the hypothalamus and transported down the pituitary stalk into the
posterior pituitary for release. The principal physiologic functions of oxytocin are to
stimulate cervical dilation and uterine contraction during labor and to allow milk to
be let down into the subareolar sinuses during lactation. Oxytocin is one of the few
hormones involved in a positive feedback loop. For example, uterine contractions
stimulate oxytocin release from the posterior pituitary, which, in turn, increases
uterine contractions.
 Understanding Pituitary Disorders

 Hormonal complications
 Damage can cause hormonal complications like adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH) deficiency, which can affect the adrenal glands and be
life-threatening. Symptoms include low blood pressure, low blood sugar,
low sodium levels, nausea, and vomiting.
 Hypopituitarism
 This condition can affect sexual development, thyroid function, growth,
skin pigmentation, and adrenal function. In children, it can delay or
prevent puberty, and in adults, it can cause infertility, hot flashes, irregular
periods, and erectile dysfunction.
 Diabetes insipidus
 This condition is caused by damage to the pituitary gland, which stores and
releases antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH normally controls how much water
the kidneys release as urine, but damage to the pituitary gland can cause this
to go wrong.
 Vision problems
 Large pituitary tumors can press against the optic nerves, causing vision
problems like loss of side vision and double vision.
 Other symptoms
 Other symptoms of pituitary gland damage include headaches, pain in the
face, drooping eyelids, seizures, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.
THANKS