Drengile Xiong

Kenneth Royce

Jeanellie Rodriguez

Anatomy II B2

The Pituitary Gland

Collection of glands that secrete and regulate the body’s hormones

Each gland secretes different types of hormones

Maintenance of Homeostasis

Examples:Metabolism, sexual

function, reproduction, and growth and development, absorption of nutrients, lactation, etc.

The Endocrine System

The Pituitary Gland

Location Base of the brain Behind bridge of

nose Above the

pituitary gland is the hypothalamus ( a cluster of brain cells).

Secretes and stores the hormones it produces and monitors and regulates a number of bodily functions through these hormonesDepends on which

hormones are secreted and how they affect the body

Function

• Anterior• Growth hormones• Adrenocorticotropic hormone• Follicle stimulating hormone

Posterior Antidiuretic hormone Oxytocin

Hormones Secreted

Growth Stimulates liver to produce

a protein called IGF-1

Metabolism Regulates sugar levels in

blood Stimulate protein

synthesis in cellsEnhances the body’s

utilization of fat cells

Anterior – Growth Hormones

Stress ManagementStimulates the

secretion of glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, in the adrenal cortex (outer layer of the adrenal gland)

Anterior -- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

Stimulates milk production in womenFunction of prolactin is unknown in men

Anterior – Prolactin Hormone

Conserves amount of water in the body by reducing the amount of water loss in urine

Also helps to control blood pressure through the kidney and blood vessels

Posterior – Antidiuretic hormone

Prepares a pregnant woman for childbirth Causes the uterus to contract during labor

Stimulates ejection of milk from the breast during nursing

Establishes maternal behavior Mother becomes attached and nourishes newborn

Posterior – Oxytocin hormone

Diseases

CauseLack of ADH (antidiuretic hormone)Kidneys unable to conserve water as they filter from the blood

SymptomsExcessive thirst Excessive urine volume

Diabetes Insipidus

Causes Overproduction of the growth

hormone by the pituitary gland

Symptoms Large hands and feet Growth in facial structure

Ex. Jaw bone, brow, nose, lips and spaces between teeth

Coarse, oily skin Fatigue Husky voice due to enlarged vocal

chords Impaired vision Headaches Pain when moving joints Irregular menstrual cycles Increased chest size

Acromegaly

Over production of grown hormones can cause gigantism

Underproduction of grown hormones can cause dwarfism

The pituitary gland is called the “King of Glands” Regulates many other glands in the endocrine system

Many famous people of Acromegaly Andre the Giant Richard Kyle

Acromegaly is an uncommon disease, but can be treated with surgery. Although, it does not make the body go back to its regular size

Interesting Facts

The Language of Medicine. Saint Louis: Saunders Elsevier, 2011. Print.

Pituitary Gland Anatomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2013. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1899167-overview>.

Growth Hormone. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2013. <http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/101/motm.do?momID=52 >.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH, corticotropin). N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2013.

<http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/acth.html >.

Anti-diuretic hormone. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2013. <http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/antidiuretic_hormone.as px>.

Diabetes Insipidus. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Sept. 2013. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000377.htm>

Bibliography

Where is the pituitary gland located?

Question 1

Answer: D

A. in front of the neck below the larynx

B. On top of the kidneys C. Upper part of the chest, behind

the breast boneD. Base of brain below the

hypothalamus

What does oxytocin do?

Questions 2

Answer: A

A. Causes the uterus to contract during childbirth

B. Control blood pressureC. Conserve amount of water in body by

reducing amount of water loss in urineD. Stimulates the secretion of cortisol (stress

hormone).

What is the disease “Acromegaly” caused by?

Question 3

Answer: B

A. An overproduction in ADHB. An overproduction in the growth hormoneC. An underproduction in the growth

hormoneD. An overproduction of prolactin

If the human body didn’t have the pituitary glands, how would the other glands of the

endocrine system be affected?

Question 4

The pituitary is important because it influences how other glands of the endocrine system operate, as well as other

organs. Hormones secreted by the pituitary gland stimulate the body’s other glands. For example, the anterior pituitary gland secretes the growth hormone to stimulate the liver to produce

the protein IGF-1. The pituitary gland is also involved in conserving the amount of water in the body by reducing water

loss in urine production, which is done by the kidneys, but cannot be efficiently done if not for the pituitary gland’s

secretion of the antidiuretic hormone. Overall, the other glands and organs of the body need the pituitary gland to maintain

homeostasis in the body.