What is the pituitary gland? Where is the pituitary gland?

Secrets of the human body have not dried up for many centuries in a row. And, although scientists have found out what a pituitary gland is, much remains unexplored. This endocrine gland is located under the crust of the cerebral hemispheres in the saddle bones of the skull.

The organ is round in shape and small in 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 it performs. The importance of this gland is difficult to overestimate, because it affects the metabolism, growth and development of the body.

Structure of the pituitary: characteristic

The human pituitary gland is divided into two parts: the anterior part (called 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 its shares function under the guidance of the hypothalamus, despite the fact that this organ is central and the most significant in the endocrine system of the human body.

Front lobe

Having described this part, we will answer the question of what is the pituitary gland. The anterior lobe includes different types of glandular endocrine cells. It, in turn, is also divided into several parts:

• Distal. It produces the majority of hormones.
• Tubular. It is a continuation of the previous one, but nothing is known about the functions, as this area is poorly understood by scientists.
• Intermediate. From the title it is clear that it is between the two above.

This structure is pituitary. Functions of the anterior lobe consist in the regulation of significant processes from the physiological point of view (this concerns growth, reproduction and lactation, stress). This function is carried out due to peptide hormones that act on the target organs: ovaries, liver, adrenals, thyroid gland, etc.

As already mentioned, the control over the right lobe is the cerebral hemispheres, namely the hypothalamus. This part is involved in the production of growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing, beta-endorphin.

Posterior lobe of the pituitary gland

This part includes three components, namely: a combination of the nerve part, the funnel stem and the medial eminence. Scientists argue that this element is a projection of the hypothalamus, therefore, such pituitary hormones, like oxytocin and vasopressin, produce this brain structure. Neurosecretory vesicles are a reservoir for these hormones, and with sufficient amounts they are ejected into the blood.

Intermediate share

It is represented by a thin layer of cells that are located between the other two parts. This fraction is involved in the production of melanocyte-stimulating hormone.

Functions of the gland

Now you can more clearly understand what a pituitary gland is, thanks to a description of its functions. For example, the anterior lobe produces many protein hormones. The substance of prolactin is responsible for the adequate production of milk from nursing women. Growth requires the growth hormone. 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, you can observe excessive growth.

In order for the thyroid gland to be healthy , the pituitary gland produces a thyroid-stimulating hormone. If the violation of the consequences can be terrible. Adrenocorticotropic hormone affects the adrenal cortex, and the development of genital organs and the onset of puberty depends on estrogen and testosterone - female and male sex hormones.

The posterior lobe also represents the pituitary gland. Its functions consist in the development of already described substances: oxytocin and vasopressin. The first hormone takes part in contracting the smooth muscles of the intestine, the gallbladder and the urinary. Oxytocin stimulates contraction of the uterus musculature during labor clashes. Also, this hormone is produced in order to reduce the mammary glands, which will promote the appearance and production of milk. This substance helps the kidneys to remove sodium, so that its blood level decreases. It should be noted that both shares perform their functions autonomously.

The pituitary gland and the large hemispheres of the brain are connected with the help of a leg, through which small arteries pass, providing the nutrition of the organ. Doctors say that not all the functions of this gland have been sufficiently studied, and that in addition to the synthesis of chemicals there is another role for this element. The exact amount of synthesized hormones is not established.

Problems with the pituitary gland and subsequent diseases

Normal functioning of the pituitary provides a guarantee of a healthy human condition and longevity. This body is a kind of organism regulator that is engaged in controlling the balance of the hormones necessary to man. A huge role in our life is played by the pituitary gland. The norm is often disrupted and symptoms can arise that signal specific diseases. Depending on how much hormones are produced (too much or too little), an individual can develop a severe endocrine disorder or even a disease.

Lack of certain hormones provokes the emergence of abnormalities in the functions of the thyroid gland, hypothyroidism, stopping growth, a person becomes a dwarf. Hypopituitarism may also develop, which delays puberty in a child or stimulates sexual disorders in an adult.

The surplus of hormones is fraught with no less terrible consequences. In such a case, such diseases as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, mental and sexual disorders, high growth (gigantism) will be characteristic.

The presented disorders are a consequence of abnormal functioning of the pituitary gland. They are accompanied by an endocrine-exchange syndrome, which has a connection with pathological formation in some part of the body of the pituitary gland. In a glandular tissue, a benign tumor called "adenoma" can form. The cause of the development of this disease can be either damage to the skull leading to brain trauma, or neuroinfection.

Pituitary adenoma: what is the essence?

Neoplasm in the form of a tumor increases with time, its size becomes larger, and it begins to produce pressure on the glandular tissue located inside the skull. The main sign is the endocrine-exchange syndrome, which accompanies ophthalmic-neurologic changes and hormonal imbalance.

The main complaints of patients referring to a doctor are: a headache in the place where the pituitary gland is located, changes in the field of vision, violation of eye movement. Diagnosis and treatment of this disease has its own characteristics and even contraindications, which are prescribed by the doctor depending on the nature of the disease. In the 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 carry a significant threat, but this does not mean that the treatment is not necessary, because the tumor will increase, cause pain, and then still have to cut it.

Types of pituitary adenoma

The classification of this education took the criterion of size as the basis. According to this, there is a microadenoma, whose diameter does not exceed two centimeters, and a macroadenoma measuring more than two centimeters. If a doctor suspects such a disease, the patient must undergo both a clinical examination and a magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI). These methods allow you to determine the nature of the tumor.

A positive diagnosis will help to prescribe a quality treatment. The patient will take medications that affect the pathological focus.

Medication and radiation therapy are the most effective treatments 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 progresses, what stage of its development.

The use of drug treatment and radio waves, which 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 required immediately.

A dangerous case and very rare is the pituitary adenoma, which develops in pregnant women. Unfortunately, such a microadenoma is contra-indicated, it does not matter medication or radiotherapy, since such an effect can adversely affect the fetus. The only thing that doctors can do is control the development of the disease. When a woman gives birth, a progressive neoplasm can be cut out. As a result, such patients are given a favorable prognosis.

Conclusion

The presented article gives an answer to the question about what a pituitary gland is, what functions it has, what violations are possible and what they lead to. A small tiny part of the human body, which has a huge impact. This indicates that everything in the body is necessary and important!