POSTERIOR PITUITARY

GLAND

By
Dr. M. Anthony David, MD
Professor of Physiology
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 POSTERIOR PITUITARY
HORMONES
 ANTI DIURETIC HORMONE (ADH):
 Also called Vasopressin
 Produced predominantly by the Supra Optic
Nucleus (SON) of the Hypothalamus.
 OXYTOCIN:
 Produced predominantly by the Para
Ventricular Nucleus (PVN) of the
Hypothalamus.
(Note: Both hormones are produced by both
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POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

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ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE (ADH)
 ALSO CALLED VASOPRESSIN
 AN OCTA PEPTIDE SECRETED MAINLY FROM
THE SUPRA-OPTIC NUCLEUS.

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 ADH: FUNCTIONS

 Increased Re-absorption of water from the

DCT/CT of the Renal Nephrons.
 MOA: Aquaporins
 Increases the permeability of nephrons for
Urea.
 Vasoconstriction: Only in extremely high,
Pharmacological dosages.

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OXYTOCIN :
FUNCTIONS:
 ON THE BREAST :
 Causes Milk
ejection and
secretion through a
Neuro-endocrine
reflex.

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OXYTOCIN: FUNCTIONS contd.

 ON THE NON PREGNANT UTERUS:

 Movement of the Female Genital Tract
 Transport of the Sperm
 Fertilization.

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OXYTOCIN:FUNCTIONS contd

 ON THE PREGNANT UTERUS:

 Initiates Parturition or Labour.
 Enhances Uterine contractions during
labor.
 Stretches the birth canal by a Positive
feedback mechanism
 Causes involution of the Uterus after
delivery.
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 MILK EJECTION REFLEX
SUCKLING
GENERAL SOMATIC
 MILK LET DOWN AFFERENCE THROUGH
SPINOTHALAMIC TRACTS

 MILK PRODUCTION
PVN/ HYPOTHALAMUS

RELEASE OF
OXYTOCIN PRODUCTION
OF PROLACTIN

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 MILK EJECTION REFLEX
 There are two distinctive features of this
reflex.
 It is a NEURO-ENDOCRINE Reflex:
 Neural Afference
 Hormonal Efference.

 It is a POSITIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISM.

 Can be also called as a vicious circle.
 Is terminated only by stopping of suckling.

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 APPLIED ASPECTS
 DIABETES INSIPIDUS:  ADH
 Causes:

 Post Pituitary Lesion

 Reistance to ADH: Nephrogenic D I

 Symptoms:

 Polyuria: Upto 15 lts/day!

 Polydipsia: Excessive Thirst

 Polyphagia: Excessive hunger

 Hypothermia:  Body Temperature.

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DYSTROPIA ADIPOSA GENITALIS
 Hypothalamus, Ant & Post Pituitary do not
secrete hormones.
PANHYPOPITUITARISM
 Very Rare
 Men have feminine fat distribution
 Also called FROHLICH’S SYNDROME or
HYPOTHALAMIC EUNUCHISM.

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 FROHLICH’S SYNDROME:
CLINICAL FEATURES
 Dwarfism
 Sexual Infantilism
 Obesity
 Voracious appetite
 Somnambulism (Sleep Walking)
 Somnolence
 Subnormal Intelligence
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 PAN HYPOPITUITARISM:
PITUITARY CACHECIA,
SIMMOND’S DISEASE
 All Anterior Pituitary Hormones are 
 Can occur in Post Partum women due

to Ischemia in the Pituitary gland.

 These women fail to lactate.

 This is called as the Sheehan’s

syndrome.
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 SIMMOND’S DISEASE:
SYMPTOMS & SIGNS
 “HE PAW”
 H : Hypothyroidism & Hypo adrenalism
 E : Extreme Lethargy
 P : Progeria: Early aging
 A : Allopecia, Anorexia, Anemia & Atropy
of Target organs.
 W : Weakness.
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