The pituitary gland, also known as the pituitary gland, is a gland located in the brain responsible for the production of several hormones that allow and maintain the proper functioning of the body.
The activity of the pituitary gland is controlled by the hypothalamus, which is a region of the brain responsible for perceiving the need of the organism and sending information to the pituitary so that the body's processes are regulated. Thus, the pituitary performs several functions in the body, such as regulation of metabolism, growth, menstrual cycle, production of eggs and sperm and natural corticosteroids.
What is it for
The pituitary gland is responsible for various functions of the body, such as metabolism, menstruation, growth and milk production in the breasts, for example. These functions are performed from the production of several hormones, the main ones being:
- GH, also known as growth hormone, is responsible for the growth of children and adolescents and also plays a key role in metabolism. The increase in GH production results in gigantism and the decrease in its production, dwarfism. Learn more about growth hormone; ACTH, also called adrenocorticotrophic hormone or corticotrophin, since it is produced in the adrenal glands, under the influence of the pituitary gland, and leads to the production of cortisol, which is a hormone responsible for controlling the stress response and ensuring the physiological adaptation of the organism to several situations. See when there may be more or less ACTH production; Oxytocin, which is the hormone responsible for uterine contractions at the time of delivery and for stimulating milk production, in addition to reducing the feeling of stress and fighting anxiety and depression. Know the main effects of oxytocin on the body; TSH, also known as thyroid-stimulating hormone, since it is responsible for stimulating the thyroid to produce the hormones T3 and T4, which are essential for the proper functioning of the metabolism. Learn more about TSH; FSH and LH, known as follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone respectively. These hormones act directly by stimulating the production of female and male hormones, in addition to the production and maturation of sperm in men and eggs in women.
The symptoms of malfunctioning of the pituitary gland can be perceived through symptoms that arise according to the hormone that had its production increased or decreased. If there is a change with regard to the production and release of GH, for example, it may be noticed exaggerated growth of the child, known as gigantism, or lack of growth, which occurs due to decreased secretion of this hormone, the situation being known as dwarfism.
The decrease or lack of production of several hormones commanded by the pituitary gland can lead to a situation called panhipopituitarismo, in which several functions of the body are affected, and the person must make hormonal replacement for life in order to have their organic functions maintained. Learn how to identify panhipopituitarism and the main symptoms.
