Anatomy & Physiology II BIO144-1003B-06
It is interesting to find out about the pituitary glands in more detail. The pituitary glands are just one major part of the endocrine system. The pituitary glands secrete hormones to the bloodstream. It has two different categories, such as the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The anterior lobe secretes different hormones that are important to the human everyday life. Prolatin, growth hormone, adrenocorticotropic, gonadotropins and thyroid-stimulating hormone are the anterior pituitary hormones. (The Hormone Foundation, 2010) Prolatin produces milk for the newborn to feed. The growth hormone is exactly what the name implies. It stimulates growth in a child. Carbohydrates and fats regulate and balance by the secretion of the growth hormone. Adrenocrticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulates the production of cortisol known as the stress hormone. It is significant in regulating blood pressure, diabetes, and healing. Gonadotropins include the follicle-stimulation hormone and the luteinizing hormone. They stimulate sex hormones in both the male and female for reproduction. The thyroid-stimulating hormone controls the secretion from the thyroid gland. The other category of the pituitary gland is the posterior lube. Antiduretic hormone and oxytocin are the hormones secreted in the posterior lube. The antiduretic hormone reduces water secretion by the kidneys. The oxytocin plays a role in childbirth because it stimulates the release of breast milk and the contracting of the uterus during labor. The pituitary gland has some very important functions. An excess of secretions from the hormones can cause a tumor.
A pituitary tumor occurs because excess of secretions becomes a growth and harms the regular functioning of the hormones or just too little secretes from the hormone. An excess of hormones is as bad as secretion of not enough hormones. Hypersecretion is an excess of secretions cause by the tumor. Hyposecretion is the opposite. It means that not enough secretions take place in the body. The growth of the tumor can cause damages to other parts of the gland or the brain. (The Hormone Foundation, 2010) It can grow large enough to stop the normal functions produced by the pituitary glands. It can be the cause of plenty complications having a pituitary gland tumor.
The pituitary gland tumor is not like a fast spreading cancer. It takes time to start causing major damage. The loss of sight is one of the complications the tumor. The tumor grows large enough to hurt the nerves it is on causing blindness. Hormone balance is important and having difficulties producing hormones or the tumor removed can hurt that balance. The natural way to restore the balance is through the body but it can be substitute with medications if needed. Diabetes insipidus can be a result of a pituitary gland tumor. A symptom is always feeling thirsty with the dry mouth or “cotton mouth” as some would call it and frequent urination. (Staff, 2010) The best treatment for anything is early detection. The growth hormone in excess can cause some medical problems too.
Acromegaly is a result of an excess of the growth hormone. Acromegaly happens during adulthood and bones have stopped growing. One of the more noticeable symptoms is height. The height of a person that has an excess of the growth hormone is towing over everyone. Different features may become larger such as the jaw, feet, hands and forehead because the body is trying to continue to grow. It also comes with the price of being easily tired and the inability to have mobility in the joints. It can be difficult to deal with the body continuing to grow. It will be pain associated with all the growing that the body continues to do. Surgeries have been successful cause without it symptoms gets worse and other complications occur.
The pituitary gland is important. It is wonderful when everything can work together. A pituitary gland tumor can go undetected if symptoms are misdiagnosed or not have any. The secretions of our hormones are as vital as any other functions in the body. The growth hormone can be a real problem if it secretes a surplus. Any hormones that secretes an additional amount or less than it needs cause the growth that becomes a pituitary gland tumor. Surgery or some medications can help put the hormones back on track.
References
Staff, M. C. (2010). Pituitary Tumors. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pituitary-tumors/DS00533
The Hormone Foundation. (2010). Retrieved from Hormone.com: http://www.hormone.org/Pituitary/overview.cfm
References: Staff, M. C. (2010). Pituitary Tumors. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pituitary-tumors/DS00533 The Hormone Foundation. (2010). Retrieved from Hormone.com: http://www.hormone.org/Pituitary/overview.cfm
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