Endocrinology and Hormones

Hormones secreted by various endocrine glands are as follows: The Pituitary gland or Master gland: It consists of 3 lobes

• Anterior lobe or Adenohypophysis
• Intermediate lobe
• Posterior lobe or Neurohypophysis

The anterior lobe or Adenohypophysis secretes 6 hormones

• Somatotrophic hormone
• Thyrotrophic hormone
• Adrenocortico trophic hormone
• Follice stimulating hormone
• Luteinising hormone in females and Interstitial cells stimulating hormone in males
• Lactogenic hormone

Somatotrophic hormone:

It stimulates the growth and development of all tissues. Improper secretion of this hormone causes 3 disorders namely Dwarfism, Gigantism, Acromegaly.

Thyrotrophic hormone:

It stimulates the growth and activity of the thyroid gland.

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone:

It controls the growth and activity of adrenal cortex.

Follicle stimulating hormone:

It stimulates the maturation of Graffian follicles in the ovary in females and sperm formation in males.

Luteinising hormone and Interstitial cell stimulating hormone:

In males the interstitial cell stimulating hormone induces the interstitial cells of the testes to produce male sex hormones called androgens. In females the luteinising hormone causes ovulation along with follicle stimulating hormone and secretion of female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Lactogenic hormone :

It helps in the growth of mammary glands and milk secretion after child birth.

Neurohypophysis or Posterior lobe:

This stores two hormones oxytocin and vasopressin .

Oxytocin :

It helps in contraction of uterus at the time of child birth. It also helps in release of milk after child birth.

Vasopressin:

It is also called anti diuretic hormone. It helps in reabsorption of water in the distal convoluted tubule, collecting tubules of kidneys . Deficiency of this causes diabetes insipidus where glucose is not lost in the urine.

These are the hormones secreted by pituitary gland. As it plays an important role in controlling the activities of thyroid, adrenal and gonads it is called Master gland of endocrine system.