PITUITARY GLAND

Small gland that dangles on the base of the brain like a pea on a string, also referred to as the
hypophysis or the master gland. It is the main endocrine organ in the body as it produces the
hormones that control other glands and many body functions including growth.
Anatomy of the Pituitary gland
Weighs 500mg, located at the base of the brain, 1cm in diameter.
Lies in the hypophyseal fossa (Sella turcica) of the sphenoid bone below the hypothalamus.
A fold of dura matter covers the pituitary gland and has an opening for the passage of
infundibulum (stalk) connecting the gland to the hypothalamus.
Division of Pituitary Gland
Consists of two main parts that originate from different types of cells
a) Anterior pituitary gland
b) Posterior pituitary gland
Anterior Pituitary (Adeno hypophysis)
An up growth of glandular epithelium from the pharynx
It secretes peptide hormones
Posterior pituitary gland (neurohypophysis)
Formed from the nervous tissue and nerve cells, surrounding by supporting glial cells
(pituicytes)
It stores hormones secreted by the hypothalamus
Relation of hypothalamus and Pituitary
The connection of the hypothalamus and pituitary results from hormones released from the
hypothalamic neurons. Hypothalamus has two different connections with the pituitary gland
The connection to the adenohypophysis (anterior lobe) via portal blood system
Connection to the neuro hypophysis (the posterior lobe) is directly through the neurons
Blood Supply to Pituitary gland
Arterial supply:
Superior and inferior hypophyseal arteries, branch of internal carotid
Anterior lobe is supplied indirectly by blood from hypothalamus.
Posterior lobe is supplied directly
Venous drainage:
Containing hormones from both lobes, venous blood leaves the gland and enter the venous
sinuses between the layers of duramater
Hormones produced by Anterior Pituitary Gland
Growth hormone
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
Prolactin
Gonadotrophins-Luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone

Growth hormone
Its release is stimulated by growth hormone releasing hormone suppressed by growth hormone
release inhibiting hormone secreted by hypothalamus
Secretion is stimulated by hypoglycemia, exercise and anxiety
greater during night sleep than day.
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Stimulated by thyrotrophin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus.
Stimulates growth and activity of thyroid gland.
Thyroid gland secretes thyroxine (T4) and Tri iodothyronine (T3)
Its level is highest during the night
When blood level of thyroid hormone is high secretion of TSH is reduced
Prolactin
Secreted during pregnancy for lactation
Stimulated by prolactin releasing hormone from hypothalamus
After birth suckling stimulate the prolactin secretion and lactation

Gonadotrophins (FSH and LH)

Just before puberty two gonadotrophins are secreted in gradually increasing amounts by the
anterior pituitary gland. Secretion is stimulated by gonadotrophin releasing hormone or
Luteinizing releasing hormone
Rising level of this hormone puberty enhances the maturation of reproductive organs.
Follicle stimulating hormone: In both males and females stimulates production of gametes
Luteinizing hormone
In females, stimulates the secretion of progesterone and estrogen from corpus luteum during
menstrual cycle.
In males it stimulates the interstitial cells to secrete testosterone.
Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone
Stimulated by the release of corticotropic releasing hormone from hypothalamus
Level is highest at midday and lowest at midnight
Stimulates the synthesis and secretion of adrenal cortical hormone.
Posterior Pituitary Gland
Produces two hormones:
1) Oxytocin
2) Antidiuretic hormone

Oxytocin
Also called antistress hormone
Produced in both males and females but its main physiological role takes place in females
whereby it:
1) Stimulates the contraction of the uterus(myometrium)
2) Stimulates the contraction myoepithelial cells that eject milk from the breast
Antidiuretic hormone
Reduces urine output
Its secretion is determined by osmotic pressure by circulating osmoreceptors in blood
Increase water intake, decrease in ADH, increase in urine output
Decrease in water intake, increase in ADH, decrease in urine output
Acts on distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts of nephrons of kidney
FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEYS
There are two kidneys in the body, right and left lying on post abdominal wall, outside
peritoneal cavity.
They weigh approximately 150gm and its size is clenched fist.
One medial side, there is a region called hilum through which pass blood and lymphatics
vessels, nerve fibers and ureter,
Kidney is surrounded by protective fibrous capsule.
Each kidney has two major zones, cortex and medulla
Medulla is divided into multiple cone shaped tissue masses called renal pyramid
Renal pelvis is funnel shaped continuation of upper end of ureter.
Outer border of pelvis is divided into open ended pouches called major calyces which extend
downwards to divide into minor calyces.
Minor calyces collect urine from tubules of each papilla.
 1) Excretion of metabolic waste products such as urea, creatinine, uric acid, bilirubin,
hormones and drugs
2) Eliminate harmful foreign compounds such as toxins, drugs, heavy metals and pesticide
3) Regulation of water and electrolyte balance to maintain normal homeostasis of body by
reabsorption and adjustment of rate of excretion of various substance
4) Regulation of arterial pressure by excreting variable amounts of water and sodium
5) Regulation of acid base balance along with lungs and body fluid buffers by excreting
sulfuric and phosphoric acid.
6) Kidneys synthesize glucose from amino acids during prolonged fasting
7) Secrete various hormones necessary for different functions in the body such as:
Erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, renin, calcitriol.
8) Hemopoietic function by secretion of erythrocytes
Regulation of blood volume
Kidney excretes excess water in hyperhydration in the form of dilute urine or save water in
dehydration by excreting concentrated urine. Central osmoreceptors (hypothalamus) and
peripheral osmoreceptors (kidney, liver, spleen and blood vessel) sense changes in blood
osmolarity and send information to the hypothalamus which regulates the concentration of
ADH in blood. By separately regulating loss of water and loss of solute in urine, the kidneys
maintain a relatively constant blood osmolality close to 300 milliosmoles per liter.
Regulation of blood glucose level
The kidneys can use amino acid glutamine in gluconeogenesis, the synthesis of new glucose
molecules. They can release glucose into the blood to help maintain normal glucose level.

Regulation of blood pH and ionic compounds

Kidneys can correct imbalances by removing excess acid (hydrogen ions) and bases
(bicarbonate) and restoring the bicarbonate concentration to normal.
Production of hormones
Human kidney produces two hormones which are erythropoietin and calcitriol
Erythropoietin
Glycoprotein that acts on bone marrow to increase production of red blood cells. Stimuli such as
bleeding or moving to higher altitude (where oxygen is scarce) triggers the release of EPO.
People with failing kidney, Dialysis without a source of EPO suffer from anemia.
Calcitriol
The active form of vitamin D is derived from calciferol which is synthesized in skin exposed to
the ultraviolet rays of the sun and precursors ingested in the diet.
Calciferol is converted into active vitamin into two steps:
Calciferol is converted in the liver into 25(OH) vitamin D3 this is carried into the kidney where it
is converted into calcitriol. This final step is promoted by the parathyroid hormone.
Calcitriol acts on the cells of the intestines to promote the absorption of calcium and phosphate
from food. Bone to mobilize calcium from the bone to blood.