HYPOTHALAMUS AND PITUITARY GLAND

• Pituitary gland - hangs by a stalk from the hypothalamus in the brain; "master endocrine gland"
• 2 Functional Lobes of the Pituitary Gland:

  • Anterior pituitary - glandular tissue
  • Posterior pituitary - nervous tissue
• Hypothalamus - produces releasing and inhibiting hormones; makes oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone
• Posterior pituitary gland - does not make hormones; stores hormones made by the hypothalamus
• Oxytocin - stimulates contractions of uterus, sexual relations, and breastfeeding
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - inhibits urine production by promoting water reabsorption by the kidneys
• Anterior Pituitary Hormones:

  Non-endocrine targets:

  • Growth hormone (GH)
  • Prolactin (PRL)

  Tropic Hormones:

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Thyrotropic hormone (TH)
  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
• Growth hormone (GH) - stimulates growth of skeletal muscles and long bones
• Prolactin (PRL) - stimulates milk production in the breast
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) - stimulates follicle development in ovaries; sperm development in testes
• Luteinizing hormone (LH) - triggers ovulation of an egg; stimulates testosterone production
• Thyrotropic hormone (TH) - influences growth and activity of the thyroid gland
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) - regulates endocrine activity of the adrenal cortex