Pituitary gland - Little Conductor of the Big Orchestra

Each of us at least once in our lives has experienced the feeling about which they say: “hormones in the blood began to play.” Many people have heard about “hormonal drugs,” and for a doctor, a subtle remark about mysterious “hormonal imbalances” is often a lifeline in the case of a difficult diagnosis. Where do these same hormones come from in the body, which have such a strong influence on our lives? The answer is simple: hormones enter the blood from special endocrine glands, which are united into a single endocrine system. These are the adrenal glands, thyroid and parathyroid glands, ovaries (in women), testes (testes in men), pancreas, hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

Perhaps there is no more hierarchical and disciplined system in the body than the endocrine one. At the pinnacle of power is the pituitary gland, a small gland rarely larger than the size of a child's little fingernail. The pituitary gland is located in the brain (at its very center) and tightly controls the work of most endocrine glands, secreting special hormones that control the production of other hormones.

For example, the pituitary gland releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) into the blood, which causes the thyroid gland to create thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Some pituitary hormones have a direct effect, for example, somatotropic hubbub, which is responsible for the processes of growth and physical development of the child.

Of course, a lack or excess of pituitary hormones inevitably leads to serious illnesses. A deficiency of pituitary hormones (hypopituitarism) leads to a secondary deficiency of hormones of other endocrine glands, for example, secondary hypothyroidism - a deficiency of thyroid hormones. In addition, a lack of pituitary hormones themselves causes severe physical impairment.

Thus, growth hormone deficiency in childhood leads to dwarfism. Hypopituitarism at an early age can manifest itself as delayed sexual development, and in adults - sexual disorders. In general, hypopituitarism leads to severe metabolic disorders that affect all body systems.

An excess of pituitary hormones gives a clear clinical picture, and the manifestations of the disease differ greatly depending on which hormone or which hormones exceed the norm. The most common is an excess of prolactin, growth hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone.

High levels of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) in women are manifested by menstrual irregularities, failure to get pregnant, and lactation (swelling of the mammary glands and leakage of milk). In men, hyperprolactinemia leads to decreased libido, even impotence.

An excess of somatotropic hormone (GH) has given the world giants. If you forget