Anterior Pituitary:
o Secrets specific hormones:
o Prolactin (PRL), Growth Hormone (GH), Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH), Luteinizing
Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
(TSH), Endorphins
Posterior Pituitary:
o Secretes specific hormones:
o Oxytocin: stimulates uterine contraction and milk let down
o Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)(Also known as, Vasopressin), stores and releases
ADH to increase water reabsorption by the tubules of the kidney.
What could go wrong with the pituitary gland?
o
o
Conditions that cause the pituitary gland to produce too much of one or more
hormone(s). Examples include acromegaly, Cushing’s disease and prolactinoma
Tumors that grow on the glands
Posterior Pituitary
Anterior Pituitary
Negative Feedback loop:
Negative Feedback
o HPA Axis
CRH
ATCH
CORTISOL
HYPOTHALAMUS  ANTERIOR PITUITARY  ADRENAL CORTEX
o Responsible for sugar, salt, and sex
o Cortisol: decreases inflammation, helps with stress response, helps with fat metabolism,
releases in large quantities when we are stressed or have trauma, sepsis, infection,
strenuous activity.
o Hypothalamus senses when we have too much or too little