Pituitary Gland


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Pituitary Gland

Pituitary gland: The pituitary is a small gland attached to the ventral side of the brain. The pituitary is the most important endocrine gland, as it secretes a number of hormones that regulate various functions of the body. It also controls the functioning of the other endocrine glands.

Therefore, it is called the master gland of the body. The pituitary gland consists of three parts—the anterior lobe, intermediate lobe and the posterior lobe.

  • The anterior lobe secretes various hormones. One of these is the growth hormone which regulates growth and development of the body. It promotes the growth of bones and muscles when the body is growing. An excessive secretion of this hormone leads to gigantism, an abnormal condition of excessive growth. On the other hand, insufficient secretion of the growth hormone in childhood retards growth, leading to dwarfism, an abnormal condition of stunted growth.
  • The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland also secretes hormones that influence the secretion of milk in the mammary glands, the production of sperms in males and the maturing of ova (eggs) in females. These hormones are prolactin, adenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH), Luteinizing hormone(LH),  follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) and thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH).
  • Two types of hormones are secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary. One of these helps in childbirth and the other influences the reabsorption of water in the kidney. These are called as vasopressin and oxytocin.
  • Pituitary controls different activities of the body whereas its own activities are controlled by hypothalamus part of the brain. Hypothalamus is the part of diencephalon part of the brain.
  • Sample Questions
    (More Questions for each concept available in Login)
    Question : 1

    Growth hormone is secreted by pituitary gland. Excessive secretion of this hormone results in ____________

    Right Option : C
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    Question : 2

    Anterior lobe of pituitary gland secretes:

    I. ACTH, TSH and oxytocin   II. STH, GH and TSH

    III. TSH, ADH and prolactin  IV. FSH, GH and LH

     

    Right Option : B
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    Explanation
    Question : 3

    Growth hormone is produced in ___________________

    Right Option : B
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    Explanation
     
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