Pituitary Gland
What is the pituitary gland
The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus. It sits in its own little chamber under your brain known as the sella turcica. It's a part of your endocrine system and is in charge of making several essential hormones. Your pituitary gland also tells other endocrine system glands to release hormones.
The pituitary gland secretes hormones from both the front part (anterior) and the back part (posterior) of the gland. Hormones are chemicals that carry messages from one cell to another through the bloodstream, and to various organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. These signals tell your body what to do and when to do it.
Which hormones does the pituitary gland make?
The anterior lobe of your pituitary gland makes and releases the following hormones:
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH or corticotrophin)ACTH plays a role in how your body responds to stress. It stimulates your adrenal glands to produce cortisol (the "stress hormone"), which has many functions, including regulating metabolism, maintaining blood pressure, regulating blood glucose (blood sugar) levels and reducing inflammation, among others.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)If you're male, FSH stimulates sperm production. If you're female, FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and plays a role in egg development. This is known as a gonadotrophic hormone.
Growth hormone (GH)In children, growth hormone stimulates growth. it helps children grow taller. In adults, growth hormone helps maintain healthy muscles and bones and impacts fat distribution. GH also impacts your metabolism, how your body turns the food you eat into energy.
Luteinizing hormone (LH)LH stimulates ovulation if you have ovaries and testosterone production if you have testicles. 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.
ProlactinProlactin stimulates breast milk production (lactation) after giving birth. It can affect fertility and sexual functions in adults.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)TSH stimulates your thyroid to produce thyroid hormones that manage your metabolism, energy levels and your nervous system.
The posterior lobe of your pituitary gland stores and releases the following hormones, but your hypothalamus makes them:
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH, or vasopressin).
This hormone regulates the water balance and sodium levels in your body.Oxytocin
.
Your hypothalamus makes oxytocin, and your pituitary gland stores and releases it. Oxytocin helps labor to progress during childbirth by sending signals to the uterus to contract. It also causes breast milk to flow and influences the bonding between parent and baby. Oxytocinalso plays a role in moving sperm.
Function
What is the function of the pituitary gland?
The main function of your pituitary gland is to produce and release several hormones that help carry out important bodily functions, including:
- Growth
- Metabolism (how your body transforms and manages the energy from the food you eat)
- Reproduction
- Response to stress or trauma
- Lactation
- Water and sodium (salt) balance
- Labor and childbirth