Pituitary gland : Parts of the body

                                              

The pituitary gland is a tiny organ, the size of a pea, found at the base of the brain. As the “master gland” of the body, it produces many hormones that travel throughout the body, directing certain processes or stimulating other glands to produce other hormones.

The pituitary gland makes or stores many different hormones. The following hormones are made in the anterior (front part) of the pituitary gland:

• Prolactin
• stimulates breast milk production after childbirth. It also affects sex hormone levels from ovaries in women and from testes (testicles) in men, as well as fertility
• Growth Hormone (GH) - stimulates growth in childhood and is important for maintaining a healthy body composition and well-being in adults. In adults, GH is important for maintaining muscle mass and bone mass. It also affects fat distribution in the body. 
• Adrenocorticotropin ( ACTH) 
•  stimulates the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands—small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. Cortisol , a "stress hormone," is vital to our survival. It helps maintain blood pressure and blood glucose (sugar) levels, and is produced in larger amounts when we’re under stress—especially after illness or injury. Read about having too much ACTH
• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
• stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones, which regulate the body's metabolism, energy balance, growth, and nervous system activity
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
• stimulates testosterone production in men and egg release (ovulation) in women
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
• promotes sperm production in men and stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and develop eggs in women. LH and FSH work together to enable normal function of the ovaries and testes

The following hormones are stored in the posterior (back part) of the pituitary gland:

• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - also called vasopressin, regulates water balance in the body. It conserves body water by reducing the amount of water lost in urine
• Oxytocin  – causes milk to flow from the breasts in breastfeeding women, and may also help labor to progress.

 Pituitary Tumors

The most frequent type of pituitary disorder is a pituitary gland tumor. These tumors are fairly common in adults. They are not brain tumors and are almost always benign (that is, not cancer). In fact, cancerous tumors of this sort are extremely rare.

There are two types of tumors—secretory and non-secretory. Secretory tumors produce too much of a hormone normally made by the pituitary, and non-secretory tumors do not. Both types of tumors can cause problems if they are large and interfere with normal function of the pituitary gland and/or nearby structures in the brain.

The problems caused by pituitary tumors fall into three general categories:

• Hypersecretion - too much of any hormone in the body is caused by a secretory pituitary tumor
• Hyposecretion- too little of any hormone in the body can be caused by a large pituitary tumor, which interferes with the pituitary gland’s ability to produce hormones. Hyposecretion can also result from surgery or radiation of a tumor
• Tumor mass effects - as a pituitary tumor grows and presses against the pituitary gland or other areas in the brain, it may cause headaches, vision problems, or other health effects

Injuries, certain medications, bleeding inside or close to the pituitary, and other conditions can also affect the pituitary gland. Loss of normal pituitary function also can occur after major head trauma.

The problems caused by pituitary tumors fall into three general categories:

• Hypersecretion - too much of any hormone in the body is caused by a secretory pituitary tumor
• Hyposecretion- too little of any hormone in the body can be caused by a large pituitary tumor, which interferes with the pituitary gland’s ability to produce hormones. Hyposecretion can also result from surgery or radiation of a tumor
• Tumor mass effects - as a pituitary tumor grows and presses against the pituitary gland or other areas in the brain, it may cause headaches, vision problems, or other health effects

Injuries, certain medications, bleeding inside or close to the pituitary, and other conditions can also affect the pituitary gland. Loss of normal pituitary function also can occur after major head trauma.

Information click HERE 

ACTH Deficiency  : Symptoms include fatigue, low blood pressure, weight loss, weakness, depression, nausea, or vomiting.

TSH Deficiency : Symptoms include constipation, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, decreased energy, and muscle weakness or aching.

It is always important to keep in mind that even large pituitary adenomas are not cancer, but if left untreated, it can cause serious illness because of its effects on the normal pituitary gland, optic nerves, and brain.

Check the above YouTube Video for hormonal balancing. Practice under a qualified Yoga teacher.

Information courtesy Google
YouTube video

                                                 Imbalance

Neel refused to get up even though the Sun rays crashed on his cheeks through the window. His grades has nose-dived but not alarmingly. Lately he preferred his own company. His mom remembered the days when he refused to be away from her. Sigh!! She wished a reversal of time. Should she talk to him?  NO. A thought in her heart screamed. She would talk first to her sister, Avni. Avni is a member of medical fraternity. The onset of puberty and changing hormones must the reason for the change in behaviour, she reasoned. 

                Readers, do you suffer from hypothyroid ? share your problems.

                                    I am participating in the A to Z Challenge. 

A to Z Challenge - Day 1. Arms : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 2. breasts : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 3.Chin & Cheeks : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 4. Dimples : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 5. Eye : Parts of the body.

A to Z Challenge - Day 6. Feet: Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 7 . Gums/Gingiva

A to Z Challenge - Day 8. Hair : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge -Day 9. Intestine : Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge -Day 10. Jaws- Parts of the body
A to Z Challenge - Day 11. Kidneys - Parts of the body
A to Z Challenge - Day 12. Lungs - Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 13. Mouth - Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 14. Nails - Parts of the body

A to Z Challenge - Day 15. Ovary - Parts of the body