Which hormones are secreted by the pituitary gland

Frequent intercourse without birth control usually Central diabetes insipidus Central Diabetes Insipidus Central diabetes insipidus is a lack of the hormone vasopressin antidiuretic hormone that causes excessive production of very dilute urine polyuria.

Central diabetes insipidus has several Hypopituitarism Hypopituitarism Hypopituitarism is an underactive pituitary gland that results in deficiency of one or more pituitary hormones. Symptoms of hypopituitarism depend on what hormone is deficient and may include Doctors can diagnose pituitary gland malfunction using several tests.

Imaging tests, such as a computed tomography CT or magnetic resonance imaging MRI , can show whether the pituitary has enlarged for example, if a pituitary tumor Enlargement of the Pituitary Gland Enlargement of the pituitary gland is usually due to a tumor but may be due to bleeding into the gland or involvement by some other disease, such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis.

Such tests can usually determine whether a tumor exists in the gland. Doctors can measure the levels of pituitary hormones, usually by a simple blood test. Doctors select which pituitary hormone levels they want to measure depending on the person's symptoms. Sometimes, levels of pituitary hormones are not easy to interpret because the levels vary greatly during the day and according to the body's needs.

For these hormones, measuring a random blood sample does not provide useful information. For some of those hormones, doctors give a substance that would normally affect hormone production and then they measure the level of the hormone.

For example, if a doctor injects insulin , the levels of ACTH , growth hormone, and prolactin should increase. Rather than measuring growth hormone levels directly, doctors often measure another hormone, insulin -like growth factor 1 IGF Growth hormone is produced in bursts and its levels quickly fall, but IGF-1 levels reflect the overall daily production of growth hormone.

For all of these reasons, interpreting the results of blood tests for pituitary hormones is complex. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world.

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This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Anterior lobe hormones. Posterior lobe hormones. Pituitary gland malfunction. Pituitary Gland Disorders. Test your knowledge. The endocrine system is made up of glands and organs that regulate and control many bodily functions by producing and secreting hormones, chemicals that affect various bodily activities.

More Content. Click here for the Professional Version. The Pituitary and Its Target Organs. Each of these hormones is made by a separate type of cell within the pituitary gland, except for follicle stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone , which are made together by the same cell. Two hormones are produced by the hypothalamus and then stored in the posterior pituitary gland before being secreted into the bloodstream. These are:. Between the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary lies the intermediate pituitary gland.

Cells here produce:. The pituitary gland is an important gland in the body and the hormones it produces carry out varied tasks and regulate the function of many other organs. This means that the symptoms experienced when the pituitary gland stops working correctly can be different, depending on which hormone is affected. A cell type may divide and then form a small benign lump, known as a tumour, and the patient may then suffer from the effects of too much of the hormone the cell produces.

If the tumour grows very large, even though still benign, it may squash the surrounding cells and stop them working hypopituitarism , or push upwards and interfere with vision — a visual field defect. Very occasionally, the tumour may expand sideways and cause double vision as it affects the nerves that control eye movements.

It should be emphasised that even when these tumours are large, they very rarely spread to other parts of the body. About Contact Events News. Consider the following hormones and their role in the workings of the endocrine system: Where the hormone is produced Hormone s secreted Hormone function Adrenal glands Aldosterone Regulates salt, water balance, and blood pressure Adrenal glands Corticosteroid Controls key functions in the body; acts as an anti-inflammatory; maintains blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle strength; regulates salt and water balance Pituitary gland Antidiuretic hormone vasopressin Affects water retention in kidneys; controls blood pressure Pituitary gland Adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH Controls production of sex hormones estrogen in women and testosterone in men and the production of eggs in women and sperm in men.

Affects growth and development; stimulates protein production; affects fat distribution. Initiates and maintains milk production in breasts; impacts sex hormone levels. Lowers blood sugar levels; stimulates metabolism of glucose, protein, and fat.

Stimulates the lining of the uterus for fertilization; prepares the breasts for milk production.