pituitary gland

may 19

pituitary gland

a fusion of both anterior and posterior tissue types which helps secrete hormones into the body

anterior pituiatry

a true endocrine gland; produces 6 different hormones that is controlled by neurohormones from the hypothalamus and carried by the hypophyseal portal system.

posterior pituitary

extension of neural tissue from the brain which secretes neurohomrones produced by the hypothalamus

hypothalamus

part of the brain/neural tissue. In charge of receiving a majority of sensory signals.

vasopressin/ ADH

released by the posterior pituitary; helps regulate blood pressure and water retention

oxytocin

released by the posterior pituitary; found in breast milk and often referred to as the chemical of love; also secreted during labor

trophic hormone

hormone acting on another endocrine tissue

hypopheseal portal system

a specialized network of blood vessels that connects the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary gland

prolactin

a hormone released by the anterior pitutary gland which plays a key role in lactation; stimulated by TRH and estrogen; inhibited by dopamine

TSH

a hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland; plays a key role in thyroid metabolism; stimulated by TRH

ACTH

a hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland; plays a key role in releasing cortisol as a stress response; stimulated by CRH

GH

a hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland; plays a key role in fat breakdown and growth; stimulated by GHRH; inhibited by SS

FSH/LH

a hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland; plays a key role in egg and sperm production; stimulated by GnRH;

long loop negative feedback

when the last hormone in a pathway feeds back to suppress secretion of other hormones

short loop negative feedback

pituitary hormones feed back to suppress hypothalamic trophic hormones

cortisol

hormone released by CRH which stimulates the anterior pituitary to release ACTH