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Pituitary Gland
Pituitary gland is also known as the ‘Master Gland’. It is further divided into three lobes— anterior, interior and posterior. The animation below shows the location of pituitary gland in the brain.
The hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary are prolactin, growth hormone (GH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), melanin stimulating hormone (MSH), gonadotropin and interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH). Intermedin is secreted by the interior pituitary and the posterior pituitary secretes oxytocin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH is also known as vasopressin. The table given below summarizes the effects of various secretions of the pituitary gland on our physiological system.
Pituitary Secretions |
Physiological Effects |
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) |
Stimulates adrenal cortex to produce corticosteroids (glucocorticoids, mineral corticoids, cortisol and androgens) |
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) |
Stimulates development of Graafin follicles in ovary and estrogen production in females and spermatogenesis in males |
Luteinizing hormone (LH) |
Stimulates ovulation, formation of the corpus luteum and production of progesterone in females
Stimulates production of testosterone in males |
Growth hormone (GH) |
Stimulates protein synthesis and growth |
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) |
Stimulates thyroid to secrete thyroxin |
Prolactin |
Stimulates milk production in the female breast |
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or Vasopressin |
Stimulates kidneys to retain/ re-absorb water;
Blood pressure |
Oxytocin |
Uterine contractions;
Stimulates contraction for ejecting milk in females |
Gonadotropin |
Secondary sexual characteristics |
Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH) |
Stimulates sperm production in seminiferous tubules in testes |
Intermedin |
Melanocyte production |
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