Hypopituitarism
Hypopituitarism is the decreased (hypo) secretion of one or more of the eight hormones normally produced by the pituitary gland. The symptoms depend on the cause, rapidity of onset, and the hormone that is involved.
Pituitary Anatomy
The pituitary gland is a small small bean-shaped gland that protrudes off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. The pituitary gland consists of two lobes; the anterior pituitary lobe and the posterior pituitary lobe. Despite its small size, the pituitary gland secretes hormone signals to other endocrine glands throughout the body and thereby influences nearly every part of the body.
The drawing below shows the hormones and the target organs of those hormones that each pituitary lobe produces.
Pituitary Regulation
The pituitary hormones help control (regulate) many of the body's processes, and below are a list of these pituitary-regulated processes.
- Growth
- Blood pressure
- Some aspects of pregnancy and childbirth including stimulation of uterine contractions during childbirth
- Breast milk production
- Sex organ functions in both men and women
- Thyroid gland function
- The conversion of food into energy (metabolism)
- Water and osmolarity regulation in the body
- Secretes ADH (antidiuretic hormone) to control the absorption of water into the kidneys
- Temperature regulation
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