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Question
Write an account of position, structure and functions of pituitary gland.
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Solution
POSITION: The pituitary gland is situated at the base of the skull just below the hypothalamus of the fore-brain. STRUCTURE: The pituitary gland is made up of three lobes as the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis), the middle pituitary, and the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis). The anterior pituitary receives the stimulating or the inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus via the portal vein system and it secretes the hormones accordingly. The posterior pituitary does not release its hormone. It stores the hormones secreted by the secretory neurons of the hypothalamus and stores them.FUNCTION:
The hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary are as follows:1. Growth hormone or somatotropin: it regulates the growth of the body protein anabolism.2. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): it controls the secretions of the thyroid gland.3. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): it regulates the hormone secretion from the adrenal cortex.4. Follicle stimulating hormone: it stimulates spermatogenesis in males and ovarian follicle growth in females.5. Leutinizing hormone: it stimulates secretion of progesterone from the corpus luteum is females and testosterone from the Leydig's cells in males.6. Prolactin: It controls the growth of mammary glands and stimulates milk production.The middle pituitary secretes melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) that controls pigmentation.The posterior pituitary stores the oxytocin and anti-diuretic hormone (vasopressin) that are secreted from the hypothalamus and make them release into the bloodstream. The oxytocin stimulates the contraction of uterine muscles during the childbirth and stimulates secretion of milk from the mammary glands. Vasopressin stimulates reabsorption of water in the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney and prevents loss of water from the body.
STRUCTURE: The pituitary gland is made up of three lobes as the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis), the middle pituitary, and the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis). The anterior pituitary receives the stimulating or the inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus via the portal vein system and it secretes the hormones accordingly. The posterior pituitary does not release its hormone. It stores the hormones secreted by the secretory neurons of the hypothalamus and stores them.
FUNCTION:
The hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary are as follows:
1. Growth hormone or somatotropin: it regulates the growth of the body protein anabolism.
2. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): it controls the secretions of the thyroid gland.
3. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): it regulates the hormone secretion from the adrenal cortex.
4. Follicle stimulating hormone: it stimulates spermatogenesis in males and ovarian follicle growth in females.
5. Leutinizing hormone: it stimulates secretion of progesterone from the corpus luteum is females and testosterone from the Leydig's cells in males.
6. Prolactin: It controls the growth of mammary glands and stimulates milk production.
The middle pituitary secretes melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) that controls pigmentation.
The posterior pituitary stores the oxytocin and anti-diuretic hormone (vasopressin) that are secreted from the hypothalamus and make them release into the bloodstream. The oxytocin stimulates the contraction of uterine muscles during the childbirth and stimulates secretion of milk from the mammary glands. Vasopressin stimulates reabsorption of water in the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney and prevents loss of water from the body.
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