The secrets of the human body have not dried up for many centuries in a row. And, although scientists have figured out what the pituitary gland is, much 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 it plays. The importance of this gland is difficult to overestimate, because it affects the metabolism, growth and development of the body.
Structure of the pituitary gland: characteristics
The human pituitary gland is divided into two parts: the anterior lobe (called the adenohypophysis) and the posterior lobe (the neurohypophysis). It also has a connection with the hypothalamus through the infundibulum. It is from this part that substances that stimulate 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 the central and most significant in the human endocrine system.organism.
Anterior lobe
Having given the characteristics of this part, we will answer the question of what the pituitary gland is. The composition of the anterior lobe includes glandular endocrine cells of various types. She, in turn, is also divided into some parts:
- Distal. It produces the main amount of hormones.
- Tubular. It is a continuation of the previous one, but nothing is known about the functions, since this area is poorly understood by scientists.
- Intermediate. From the name it is clear that it is located between the two described above.
The pituitary gland has this structure. The functions of the anterior lobe are in the regulation of 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 right lobe is controlled by the cerebral hemispheres, namely the hypothalamus. This part is responsible for the production of growth hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, follicle-stimulating and luteinizing, beta-endorphin.
Posterior pituitary gland
This part has three components, namely the combination of the neural lobe, infundibulum and median eminence. Scientists claim that this element is a projection of the hypothalamus, therefore, pituitary hormones such as oxytocin and vasopressin are produced by this brain structure. The neurosecretory vesicles are the reservoir for thesehormones, and when enough are released into the bloodstream.
Intermediate share
It is represented by a thin layer of cells that are located between the other two parts. This lobe is involved in the production of melanocyte-stimulating hormone.
Functions of the gland
Now you will be able to understand more clearly what the pituitary gland is by describing its functions. For example, the anterior lobe produces many protein hormones. The substance prolactin is responsible for adequate milk production in lactating women. Somatotropin is needed for the growth of the body. If it is not enough, then the development of the body stops, and the person may remain a dwarf. When there is too much hormone, then excessive growth can be observed.
In order for the thyroid gland to be he althy, the pituitary gland produces thyroid-stimulating hormone. If violated, the consequences can be dire. 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 - female and male sex hormones.
The posterior lobe also represents the pituitary gland. Its functions are to produce the already described substances: oxytocin and vasopressin. The first hormone takes part in the contraction of the smooth muscles of the intestines, gallbladder and bladder. Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions during labor. Also, this hormone is produced in order to reduce the mammary glands, which will contribute to the appearance and production of milk. This substance helps the kidneys excrete sodium, thanks towhich lowers its blood level. It should be noted that both shares perform their functions autonomously.
The pituitary gland and the cerebral hemispheres are connected with the help of a pedicle, along which small arteries pass, providing nutrition to the organ. Doctors say that not all the functions of this gland have been sufficiently studied yet, and that in addition to the synthesis of chemicals, there is another role for such an element. The exact amount of hormones synthesized has not been established.
Pituitary gland problems and subsequent diseases
The normal functioning of the pituitary gland guarantees a person's he althy condition and longevity. This organ is a kind of body regulator that controls the balance of hormones that a person needs. 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 can develop a severe endocrine disorder or even a disease.
The lack of certain hormones provokes the occurrence of abnormalities in the functions of the thyroid gland, hypothyroidism, stunting, a person becomes a dwarf. Hypopituitarism can also develop, which delays puberty in a child or stimulates reproductive disorders in an adult.
An excess of hormones is fraught with no less terrible consequences. In this case, diseases such as high arterialpressure, diabetes mellitus, mental and reproductive disorders, large growth (gigantism).
The presented violations are a consequence of the abnormal functioning of the pituitary gland. They are accompanied by an 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 point?
A neoplasm in the form of a tumor increases with time, its size becomes larger, and it begins to produce pressure on the glandular tissue inside the skull. The main symptom is endocrine-metabolic syndrome, which is accompanied by ophthalmo-neurological changes and hormonal imbalance.
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 vision, impaired 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 a large tumor, 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 willincrease, cause pain, and then you still have to cut it out.
Types of pituitary adenoma
The classification of this formation was based on the criterion of size. According to this, there is a microadenoma, the diameter of which does not exceed two centimeters, and a macroadenoma, which has a size of more than two centimeters. If a doctor suspects such a disease, the patient should undergo both a clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI for short). These methods allow you to determine the nature of the tumor.
A positive diagnostic result will help prescribe quality treatment. The patient will take medications that affect the pathological focus.
Drug and radiation therapy are the most effective treatments for this disease that 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 very rare - pituitary adenoma, which develops in pregnant women. Unfortunately, it is contraindicated to treat such a microadenoma, whether it is medical or radiation intervention, since such an effect can adversely affect the fetus. The only thing doctors can do is control the progress of the disease. When a woman gives birth, the progressive neoplasm can be cut out. As a result, such patients are given a favorable prognosis.
Conclusion
This article gives an answer to the question of what the pituitary gland is, what functions it has, what violations are possible and what they lead to. A tiny tiny part of the human body, which has a huge impact. This indicates that everything in the body is necessary and important!
