The secrets of the human body have not dried up for centuries in a row. And, although scientists have found out what the pituitary gland is, a lot remains unknown. This endocrine gland is located under the cortex of the cerebral hemispheres in the saddle bones of the skull.
The organ has a rounded shape and small size, its weight is 0.5 g. Many people know where the pituitary gland is located, but not everyone is aware of the significance of the role played by it. The importance of this gland can hardly be overestimated, because it affects the metabolism, the growth and development of the body.
The structure of the pituitary gland: characteristic
The human pituitary gland is divided into two parts: the anterior lobe (called the adenohypophysis) and the posterior lobe (neurohypophysis). He also has a connection with the hypothalamus through the funnel. It is from this part that substances stimulating the production of hormones enter the pituitary gland. Both of its lobes function under the guidance of the hypothalamus, despite the fact that this organ is central and most significant in the endocrine system of the human body.
Front lobe
Having described this part, we will answer the question of what the pituitary gland is. The anterior lobe contains glandular endocrine cells of a different type. She, in turn, is also divided into some parts:
- Distal. It produces the bulk of hormones.
- Tubular. It is a continuation of the previous one, but nothing is known about the functions, since this area is poorly studied by scientists.
- Intermediate. From the name it is clear that it is between the two above.
This structure has the pituitary gland. The functions of the anterior lobe are to regulate significant processes from a physiological point of view (this applies to growth, reproduction and lactation, stress). This function is carried out thanks to peptide hormones that act on target organs: ovaries, liver, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, etc.
As already mentioned, the cerebral hemispheres, namely the hypothalamus, have control over the right lobe. This part is involved in the production of growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing, beta-endorphin.
Posterior Pituitary Gland
This part includes three components, namely: a combination of the nerve lobe, funnel stem and median elevation. Scientists claim that this element is a projection of the hypothalamus, so pituitary hormones such as oxytocin and vasopressin produce this brain structure. Neurosecretory vesicles are a reservoir for these hormones, and when they are sufficient, they are released into the blood.
Intermediate share
It is represented by a thin layer of cells that are located between two other parts. This share produces melanocyte-stimulating hormone.
Gland functions
Now you can more clearly understand what the pituitary gland is, thanks to a description of its functions. For example, the anterior lobe produces many protein hormones. The substance prolactin is responsible for the adequate production of milk in lactating women. Growth requires somatotropin. If it is not enough, then the development of the body is suspended, and a person can remain a dwarf. When there is too much hormone, then excessive growth can be observed.
In order for the thyroid gland to be healthy , the pituitary gland produces thyroid-stimulating hormone. If violated, the consequences can be scary. The adrenal cortex is affected by adrenocorticotropic hormone, and the development of the genital organs and the onset of puberty depend on estrogen and testosterone - the female and male sex hormones.
The posterior lobe also represents the pituitary gland. Its functions are to produce substances already described: oxytocin and vasopressin. The first hormone takes part in the contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestines, gall bladder and urinary tract. Oxytocin stimulates uterine muscle contraction during labor. Also, this hormone is produced in order to reduce the mammary glands, which will contribute to the appearance and production of milk. Such a substance helps the kidneys remove sodium, so that its level in the blood decreases. It should be noted that both shares perform their functions autonomously.
The pituitary gland and the cerebral hemispheres of the brain are connected with the help of a leg, along which small arteries pass, providing nutrition to the organ. Doctors say that not all the functions of this gland have been studied enough, and that in addition to the synthesis of chemicals, there is another role for such an element. The exact amount of synthesized hormones has not been established.
Pituitary problems and subsequent diseases
The normal functioning of the pituitary gland provides a guarantee of a healthy human condition and longevity. This organ is a kind of regulator of the body, engaged in controlling the balance of hormones necessary for a person. The pituitary gland plays a huge role in our life. The norm is often violated and symptoms may occur that signal specific diseases. Depending on how much hormone is produced (too much or too little), an individual may develop severe endocrine disruption or even a disease.
The lack of certain hormones provokes the occurrence of deviations in the functions of the thyroid gland, hypothyroidism, stunting, a person becomes a dwarf. Hypopituitarism may also develop, which delays puberty in a child or stimulates disorders of the reproductive system in an adult.
An excess of hormones is fraught with no less terrible consequences. In this case, diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, mental and reproductive disorders, and large growth (gigantism) will be characteristic.
The presented violations are a consequence of the abnormal functioning of the pituitary gland. They are accompanied by endocrine-metabolic syndrome, which is associated with a pathological formation in some part of the pituitary body. A benign tumor called an adenoma can form in the glandular tissue. The cause of the development of this disease can be either damage to the skull, leading to brain injury, or neuroinfection.
Pituitary adenoma: what is the essence?
A neoplasm in the form of a tumor increases with time, its size becomes larger, and it begins to exert pressure on the glandular tissue located inside the skull. The main sign is the endocrine-metabolic syndrome, which is accompanied by ophthalmic-neurological changes and hormonal imbalances.
The main complaints of patients who turn to the doctor are: headache in the place where the pituitary gland is located, changes in the field of view, impaired eye movement. Diagnosis and treatment of this disease has its own characteristics and even contraindications, which are prescribed by a doctor depending on the nature of the disease. In case of large tumor sizes, if there are no contraindications, surgical intervention is applied and the formation is removed.
If a microadenoma with a small size is found in a person, then it does not pose a significant threat, but this does not mean that treatment is not necessary, since the tumor will increase, cause pain, and then you still have to cut it out.
Types of pituitary adenoma
The classification of this entity is based on size criteria. According to this, there is a microadenoma, the diameter of which does not exceed two centimeters, and a macroadenoma, having a size of more than two centimeters. If the doctor suspects such a disease, the patient must undergo both a clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (abbreviated MRI). These methods allow you to determine the nature of the tumor.
A positive diagnostic result will help to prescribe a quality treatment. The patient will take medications that affect the pathological focus.
Drug and radiation therapy are the most effective types of treatment for this disease, which are known in medical practice. The treatment process is very individual and depends on the functional state of the human body, as well as on how the disease proceeds, what stage of its development.
The use of drug treatment and radio waves that affect the pathological focus is characteristic of the initial stage of the disease. If the nature of the adenoma is progressive, then surgical intervention is immediately required.
A dangerous case and a very rare one is the pituitary adenoma, which develops in pregnant women. Unfortunately, it is contraindicated to treat such a microadenoma, it does not matter medication or radiation, since such an effect can adversely affect the fetus. The only thing that doctors can do is to control the development of the disease. When a woman gives birth, a progressive neoplasm can be excised. As a result, such patients are given a favorable prognosis.
Conclusion
This article provides an answer to the question of what the pituitary gland is, what functions it has, what disorders are possible and what they lead to. A small tiny particle of the human body, which has a huge impact. This indicates that everything in the body is necessary and important!