Download The Anterior Pituitary Gland

By Krista & Mandy
•it weighs about >0.5g
• 1 of 2 functionally
distinct parts
• makes up 75% of the
total weight of the
pituitary
• also known as:
adenohypophysis
http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mnby6kas/structur.htm
There are 6 major hormones:
• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• Growth Hormone (GH)
• Prolactin Hormone (PRL)
• Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH)
• Target: Thyroid
• causes synthesis and secretion of triiodothyronine and
thyroxine by the thyroid gland
• factors that affect the release of TRH from hypothalamus:
blood levels, glucose and the body’s metabolic rate
• Deficiency: Metabolism, Cardiovascular, GT tract, and
Motor Nervous System
• What can go wrong? - congenital problems affecting
any of the pituitary hormones, loss of midline structures
like septo-optic dysplasia causing loss of the optic nerve.
http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mnby6kas/tsh.htm
• Target: Ovaries in females & testes in males
Induces ovulation in females & stimulates secretion of
oestradiol and progesterone in females
Acts on Leydig cells of testes to produce testosterone in
males & maintains spermatogenesis, the production of sex
hormone binding globulin
• Deficiency: Irregular menstrual cycle, affected
production of sperm, infertility or impotence
• What can go wrong? amenorrhoea, creating a lack of
ovulation in females and infertility in men, failure of gondal
function
http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mnby6kas/FSH%26LH.htm
• Target: All cells in the body
• controls 2 hypothalmic hormones  2 types of IGP’s,
IGP 1 & IGP 2
• factors that affect GHRH are stress, sleeping,exercise
and blood glucose levels
• Deficiency: under development of bone, soft
tissue,viscera and the metabolism, weakness
• What can go wrong? Gigantism, acromegaly, insulin
resistance, GH secreting tumors
http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mnby6kas/gh.htm
• Target: Breasts
• Initiates and maintains milk secretion by the mammary
glands
• May play a part in fertility and maternal behaviour
• Deficiency: little or no production of breast milk,
problems with fertility
•What can go wrong? High levels can lead to loss of
reproductive function and inappropriate milk production
http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mnby6kas/prl.htm
• Target: Adrenals
• Controls the production of glucocorticoids by adrenal
cortex, stimulating conversion of cholesterol to
pregnenolone - a precursor of cortisol
•ACTH - released from pituitary following a circadian
rhythm - peaking in the morning then declines
• Deficiency: stressed out
•What can go wrong? Cushing Syndrome  body
tissue exposed to cortisol for long periods of time
http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mnby6kas/ACTH.htm
http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mnby6kas/function.htm
• changes in weight (gain or loss)
• swollen or enlarged body parts
• blood pressure problems
• personality changes
• skin changes
• temperature sensitivity
• weakness
• irregular menstruation cycle
• infertility/ impotence
Farr, Dr. Gary. "The Pituitary Gland." Become Healthy Now. 10 June 2002. 05
June 2009
<http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/bodyendocrine/734/>.
"Pituitary Tumor." Health News - The New York Times. 18 Mar. 2008. 05 June
2009 <http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/pituitarytumor/overview.html>.
"Site Map." Faculty of Life Sciences ELP: e-Learning Projects. 06 June 2009
<http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mnby6kas/sit
emap.htm>.