PITUITARY GLAND

-

Pituitary Gland

The pituitary gland, also known as the hypophysis, is a small pea-sized lump of tissue connected to the inferior portion of the hypothalamus of the brain. Many blood vessels surround the pituitary gland to carry the hormones it releases throughout the body. Situated in a small depression in the sphenoid bone called the sella turcica, the pituitary gland is actually made of 2 completely separate structures: the posterior and anterior pituitary glands.

Posterior Pituitary

The posterior pituitary gland is actually not glandular tissue at all, but nervous tissue instead. The posterior pituitary is a small extension of the hypothalamus through which the axons of some of the neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus extend. These neurosecretory cells create 2 hormones in the hypothalamus that are stored and released by the posterior pituitary:
  • Oxytocin triggers uterine contractions during childbirth and the release of milk during breastfeeding.
  • Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) prevents water loss in the body by increasing the re-uptake of water in the kidneys and reducing blood flow to sweat glands.

Anterior Pituitary

The anterior pituitary gland is the true glandular part of the pituitary gland. The function of the anterior pituitary gland is controlled by the releasing and inhibiting hormones of the hypothalamus. The anterior pituitary produces 6 important hormones:
Imagen relacionada
  • Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as its name suggests, is a tropic hormone responsible for the stimulation of the thyroid gland.
  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulates the adrenal cortex, the outer part of the adrenal gland, to produce its hormones.
  • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the follicle cells of the gonads to produce gametes—ova in females and sperm in males.
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates the gonads to produce the sex hormones—estrogens in females and testosterone in males.
  • Human growth hormone (HGH) affects many target cells throughout the body by stimulating their growth, repair, and reproduction.
  • Prolactin (PRL) has many effects on the body, chief of which is that it stimulates the mammary glands of the breast to produce milk.

Comentarios

Publicar un comentario

Entradas populares de este blog

HUMAN EMBRYOGENESIS (STEP 1-4)

-
Imagen
Embryogenesis, the first eight weeks of development after fertilization, is an incredibly complicated process. It’s amazing that in eight weeks we’re transforming from a single cell to an organism with a multi-level body plan. The circulatory, excretory, and neurologic systems all begin to develop during this stage. Luckily, like with many complex biological concepts, fertilization can be broken down into smaller, simpler ideas. The big idea of embryogenesis is going from a single cell to a ball of cells to a set of tubes.  Starting from the very beginning Step 1 : a  zygote  is the single cell formed when an egg and a sperm cell fuse; the fusion is known as fertilization Step 2 : the first 12-to 24-hours after a zygote is formed are spent in  cleavage  – very rapid cell division The zygote’s first priority is dividing to make lots of new cells, so it’s first few days are spent in rapid mitotic division. With each round of division, it doubles in cell number. This divisio
Leer más

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

-
Imagen
The Central Nervous System (CNS) The central nervous system is divided into two major parts: the brain and the spinal cord.   Firstly,we are going to talk about the brain. Parts of the Human Brain and their Subdivisions Human encephalon resembles, in structure and function, with that of the other vertebrates. The scientists reveal that parts of the human brain are Forebrain, Midbrain & Hindbrain and the related structures that collectively act as a single highly specialized unit. These parts work in coordination and perform  different functions of brain . More specifically, it is divided into five major regions, namely, telencephalon, diencephalon or inter-brain, myelencephalon (hindbrain/medulla oblongata), metencephalon and mesencephalon (midbrain). Here follows a precise but comprehensive description of each of the above given divisions. Telencephalon/Cerebrum—Anterior Part Of Forebrain Further composed of cerebral cortex, limbic and basal ganglia, it is th
Leer más

ANATOMY OF THE KNEE

-
Imagen
The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body. The knee joins the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The smaller bone that runs alongside the tibia (fibula) and the kneecap (patella) are the other bones that make the knee joint. Tendons connect the knee bones to the leg muscles that move the knee joint. Ligaments join the knee bones and provide stability to the knee: The anterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from sliding backward on the tibia (or the tibia sliding forward on the femur). The posterior cruciate ligament prevents the femur from sliding forward on the tibia (or the tibia from sliding backward on the femur). The medial and lateral collateral ligaments prevent the femur from sliding side to side. Two C-shaped pieces of cartilage called the medial and lateral menisci act as shock absorbers between the femur and tibia. Numerous bursae, or fluid-filled sacs, help the knee move smoothly.
Leer más

SKELETAL SYSTEM (TYPES OF BONES AND PARTS)

-
Imagen
The skeletal system includes all of the bones and joints in the body. Each bone is a complex living organ that is made up of many cells, protein fibers, and minerals. The skeleton acts as a scaffold by providing support and protection for the soft tissues that make up the rest of the body. The skeletal system also provides attachment points for muscles to allow movements at the joints. New blood cells are produced by the red bone marrow inside of our bones. Bones act as the body’s warehouse for  calcium, iron, and energy in the form of fat. Finally, the skeleton grows throughout childhood and provides a framework for the rest of the body to grow along with it. Skeletal System Anatomy The skeletal system in an adult body is made up of 206 individual bones. These bones are arranged into two major divisions: the  axial skeleton  and the  appendicular skeleton .   Types of Bones All of the bones of the body can be broken down into five types: long, short, flat, irregular, and
Leer más