POSTERIOR

PITUITARY
GLAND
(HORMONES)
Admin
SIR UMER , PHISIOLOGY

ROMAN AJMAL KHAN

DEPARTMENT MLT

ROLL #42
INTRODUCTION TO PITUITARY GLAND ;
The pituitary gland is composed of two distinct
components.ANTERIORPITUTIARYGLAND OR
ADENOHYPOPHYSIS which is derived
embryoligically from an upward invagination of
cells from the oral cavity and the
POSTERIORPITUITARYGLAND or neurohypophysis
which is derived from the down growth of cells
from the third ventricle of the brain .
Between these portions is a small relatively
avascular zone called the pars intermedia .Pituitary
gland is connected to the hypothalamus by the
hypothalamic or pituitary stalk.

POSTERIOR PITUITARY HORMONES ARE

SYNTHESIZED BY HYPOTHALAMIC
CELLS;
Magnocellular neurons whose cell bodies are
located in the supraoptic and paraventicullar nuclei
of the hypothalamus synthesize the
neurohypophysial hormones
 Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
 Oxytocin

POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND AND ITS

RELATION TO THE HYOTHALAMUS;
ADH and OXYTOCIN are synthesized as
peraprohormones in the cell bodies of
magnocellular neurons locates in the supraoptic
and paraventicular nuclei . They are transported in
secretion granules down axons to nerve terminals in
the posterior pituitary gland .ADH is synthesized
largely in the supraoptic nucleus and OXYTOCIN is
synthesized in the paraventicular nucleus although
each hormone is synthesizes on alternate site

PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF
ANTIDIURETIC HORMONES ;
 ADH regulates osmolality of body fluids by
altering renal excretion of water.It plays an
important role in the regulaton of plasma
osmolality in the absence of ADH all the
collecting tubules and ducts are largely
impermeable to water which prevents
significant reabsorption of water in these
portions of nephron thus resulting in the
large volume of dilute urine and net loss of
water .Consequently osmolality of body
fluids rises in comparision when ADH
increase.
ADHsecretion is regulated by
osmoreceptors in anterior hypothalamus
that send nervous signal to the supraoptic
and paraventricular nuclei .Osmoreceptors
are outside the blood of the brain barrier
and are located in the circumventicular
organs primarily the organum vasculosum
 of the lateral terminals these same
osmorecptors also mediate the thirst
response to increased plasmaosmolality.
 ADH secretion is influenced by multiple factors
additional stimuli that increase ADH secretion
include hypovolemia, hypotension ,nausea ,
pain stress and number of drugs (morphine
,nicotine,barbiturates )factors that decrease
ADH secretion include hypovolemia ,
hypertension ,alcohol these factors can have an
important impact on the regulation of body
fluid osmolality fr instance in hypovolemic state
or in heart failure

ADH contributes to the maintenance of blood

pressure during hypovolemia .Stimulation of
ADH secretion by hypovolemia and or
hypotension is achieved by reflexces initiated
from receptors in both high and low pressure
regions of circulation the high pressure
receptors are those in the carotid sinuses and
aortic arch the low pressure receptors are
those in the cardiopulmonary circulation
especially in the atria .Atleast 5% decrease in
blood volume is necessary to increase ADH
secretion appreciabely by this reflex
mechanism .
PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF
OXYTOCIN ;
 OXYTOCIN CONTRIBUTES TO THE
PARTURITION;It causes contraction of
smooth muscles of the uterus the
sensitivity of this response is enhanced by
plasma level of estrogen . which increase
during pregnancy .During labor ,descent of
the fetus through the birth canal stimulates
receptors on the cervix , which send signal
to the supraoptic and paraventicular nuclei
 and cause secretion of oxytocin in turn
contributes to labor by causing contraction
of the uterus .
 OXYTOCIN PLAYS ANN IMPORTANT ROLE IN
LACTATION BY CAUSING MILK EJECTION ; It
causes contraction of the myo-epithelial
cells of the alveoli of the mammary glands
which forces milk from the alveoli into the
ducts so the baby can obtain it by suckling
the milk ejection refkex is initiated by
receptors on the nipples of the breast
ssuckling causes reflex stimulation of the
oxytocin containing neuroendocrine cells
in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei
and secretion of the oxytocin from the
posterior pituitary gland the circulating
oxytocin that causes the myoeopithelial
cells to contract , initiating milk ejection .