The pituitary gland is often referred to as the "master gland" because it plays a crucial role in regulating the functions of various other endocrine glands in the body. It secretes and controls the release of several hormones that influence various physiological processes throughout the body.
The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, also known as the adenohypophysis, produces and releases several important hormones. Here are the hormones of the adenohypophysis along with their functions:
1. Growth Hormone (GH): Stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration in the body.
2. Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): Stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, which helps regulate metabolism, immune response, and stress responses.
3. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH): Stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and development.
4. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): In females, FSH stimulates the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles, leading to the production of estrogen. In males, it promotes the production of sperm.
5. Luteinizing Hormone (LH): In females, LH triggers ovulation and stimulates the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum. In males, it stimulates the production of testosterone.
6. Prolactin (PRL): Stimulates milk production in the mammary glands after childbirth and plays a role in reproductive functions.
7. Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones (MSH): Regulates the production and release of melanin, which affects pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. MSH also has roles in appetite regulation and inflammation.
It's important to note that the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, known as the neurohypophysis, does not synthesize its own hormones. Instead, it stores and releases two hormones produced by the hypothalamus: oxytocin, which regulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding, and antidiuretic hormone (ADH or vasopressin), which regulates water balance by acting on the kidneys.
