Pituitary Flashcards
What hormones are secreted from the anterior lobe of the pituitary?
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
Growth hormone (GH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Prolactin
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
What hormones are secreted from the posterior lobe?
Antiduretic hormone (ADH/vasopressin)
Oxytocin
What does adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) do?
Plays a role in how you’re body responds to stress.
It stimulates your adrenal glands to produce cortisol, which has many functions such as controlling BP, metabolism, blood glucose, and inflammation.
What does follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) do?
FSH stimulates sperm production in males. FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce oestrogen and plays a role in egg development in females. This is known as a gonadotrophic hormone.
What does growth hormone (GH) do?
In children, growth hormone stimulates growth. In other words, it helps children grow taller. In adults, growth hormone helps maintain healthy muscles and bones and impacts fat distribution. GH also impacts your metabolism
What does luteinizing hormone (LH) do?
LH stimulates ovulation in females and testosterone in males. LH is also known as a gonadotrophic hormone because of the role it plays in controlling the function of the ovaries and testes, known as the gonads.
What does prolactin do?
Prolactin stimulates breast milk production (lactation) after giving birth. It can also affect fertility and sexual functions in adults.
What does thyroid stimulating hormone do?
TSH stimulates your thyroid to produce thyroid hormones that manage your metabolism, energy levels and your nervous system.
What does an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) do?
This hormone regulates the water balance and sodium levels in your body.
What does oxytocin do?
Your hypothalamus makes oxytocin, and your pituitary gland stores and releases it. In females, oxytocin helps labor to progress during childbirth by sending signals to their uterus to contract. It also causes breast milk to flow and influences the bonding between parent and baby. In males, oxytocin plays a role in moving sperm.
What is hypopituitarism?
Hypopituitarism happens when the pituitary gland is not active enough. It does not make enough hormones. Hypopituitarism can directly affect the pituitary gland. Or it can indirectly affect the gland through changes in the hypothalamus.
What are the main causes of hypopituitarism?
- Head injuries
- Brain surgery
- Radiation treatment to the head or neck
- Lack of blood flow to the brain or pituitary gland (stroke) or bleeding (hemorrhage) into the brain or pituitary gland
- Certain medications, such as narcotics, high-dose corticosteroids or certain cancer drugs called checkpoint inhibitors
- Inflammation of the pituitary gland caused by an abnormal immune system response (hypophysitis)
Infections of the brain, such as meningitis, or infections that can spread to the brain, such as tuberculosis or syphilis
What are the symptoms of a GH deficiency?
In children, GH deficiency may cause growth problems and short stature.
Most adults who have GH deficiency don’t have any symptoms, but for some adults it can cause:
* Fatigue
* Muscle weakness
* Changes in body fat composition
* Lack of ambition
Social isolation
What are the symptoms of LH deficiency in men and woman?
Affects the production of egg and sperm
Women and men may experience a lower sex drive, infertility or fatigue. In children and adolescents, delayed puberty is usually the only symptom.
Women may also have symptoms such as:
○ Hot flashes
○ Irregular or no periods
○ Loss of pubic hair
○ An inability to produce milk for breast-feeding
Men may also have symptoms such as:
§ Erectile dysfunction
§ Decreased facial or body hair
§ Mood changes
What are the symptoms of a TSH deficiency?
□ Fatigue
□ Weight gain
□ Dry skin
□ Constipation
□ Sensitivity to cold or difficulty staying warm
