Chapter 18 Pituitary Gland

Pituitary Gland - “master gland” and controls the functions of several other hormones

  • anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis): produces 6-7 hormones (growth hormone, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyrotropic hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone)

  1. Growth hormone: plays a role in overall body size and stimulates growth and division in target cells of skeletal muscles and long bones

  2. Prolactin: target is breast cells and stimulates/maintains milk production after childbirth

  3. Gonadotropic Hormones

  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone: stimulates egg development in the ovaries and stimulates sperm development in the testes

  • Luteinizing Hormone: triggers egg release and hormone production in ovaries and stimulates testosterone production in the testes

  1. Thyrotropic Hormone (TSH): influences growth and activity of the thyroid gland

  2. Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): regulates hormone production in the adrenal cortex

Pituitary - Hypothalamus Connection: releasing and inhibiting hormones produced by the hypothalamus control the release of each hormone produced by the anterior pituitary

Posterior Pituitary - stores 2 hormones made by the hypothalamus

  • oxytocin (“love hormone”): stimulates uterine contractions during labor and breastfeeding; causes milk ejection

  • antidiuretic hormone & vasopressin: causes the kidneys to reabsorb more water during urine formation to maintain proper blood volume