The pituitary diseases

personal notes by Dr. Claudio Italian, hospital interns


The Thyroid: introduction The Thyroid: diseases associated with hyper and hypothyroidism, obesity and hormonal imbalances

The central nervous system is connected to the body's periphery, like a computer and its peripherals (printers, scanners, mice, etc.. This is possible because the base of the brain there is a gland that, although belonging to the encephalon, it actually works by link between brain and peripheral organs. It is the'ipòfisi or pituitary gland, so called because it produces hormones, because a gland is just that produces substances called "hormones" from the greek now, that is sending signals. It 'also known as the gland endocrine (from the greek Endos hair, that is secreted in) since secretes to the interior of the body.

It consists of two parts called lobes structurally and functionally different, controlling, through the secretion of several hormones, metabolism and endocrine activity, the set of reactions that allow life and increased retention of tissues and el ' breeding activities of living beings, everything all the main vital functions of the human body. The front is the anterior lobe or adenohypophysis, the gland that is true, the part behind the neurohypophysis, related to the nervous system.

Physiology
This endocrine gland is located at the base of the skull within the sella turcica, so that just for the form, which is located in the saddle 'sphenoid bone. Weighs little, 0.9 g.


The adenohypophysis mainly regulates the activities of:

Thyroid ·

Adrenal ·

· Gonad

· To increase

· Cause diabetes strange that insipidus

This happens through the action of six different hormones produced by the adenohypophysis.

· GH, independent of the other endocrine glands, stimulates the deposition of calcium in bone and cartilage cell proliferation, increases the mass of skeletal muscle and stimulates protein synthesis. It is also known as growth hormone and its lack causes developmental arrest statural and weight of the individual.

· Prolactin,

· Follicolotropo for stage of sexual cycle leading to production of the follicle that stimulates the ovaries to form hair follicles and the secretion of their hormones, estrogen.

· Luteotropo, or luteinizing hormone, the second phase of the cycle responsible for the production of progesterone. In humans, these hormones regulate spermatogenesis. See also stress and sex!

· Thyroid stimulating hormone, that stimulates the production of thyroid hormones

· Corticotropo, which leads to the production of adrenal hormones.

• The neurohypophysis

E 'secretory appendage that produces:

ADH or vasopressin, which controls the excretion of urine from the kidney and thereby regulates water and electrolyte replacement of body fluids;

oxytocin which acts on the uterus, stimulating contractions during childbirth

prolactin, a hormone of lactation and sexuality and arousal.

A system for monitoring the secretion of pituitary, very fine and delicate. Alas, for example, if the gland produces hormone excess! Think of the thyroid, for example, where the ormpne TSH regulates the release of FT3 and FT4, if not with finesse regolagto can have serious diseases ranging from hypothyroid cretinism hyperthyroidism. The adjustment is made by the hypothalamus pituitary, so to speak, the autonomic brain, which releases the regulatory factors. But do not stop there: in fact the periphery, in turn, adjusts for feedback, production of the hypothalamus. That is, if for example I have little hormone, the adjustment allows increased production of hormone release, conversely, there will be a negative feedback.

Finally there is the hormone MSH, or intermedina, with action on the melanocytes, responsible for skin pigmentation.

The intermedina (MSH) has trophic effect on the melanocytes, responsible for skin pigmentation.

Pathology
If these regulatory mechanisms are altered, or if the pituitary is somehow damaged, you may experience:

· Excessive production of hormones (Hyperpituitarism)

· Or their failure (hypopituitarism).

Hypopituitarism, that in young subjects, manifested mainly with pituitary dwarfism that depends on growth hormone deficiency, if deficiency on the other hand, ACTH has adrenal insufficiency, with low body's ability to respond to infections and stress .

The Hyperpituitarism, usually due to tumors all'adenoipofisi concerns also the hormone and corticotropo. The excess growth hormone causes two different phenomena: if the hypersecretion begins before the complete maturation of long bones, the skeleton continues to increase, giving rise to the characteristic syndrome of gigantism (some young patients reach heights of 2.10 to 2.40 m) pl'acromegalia when it occurs in the adult with growth of peripheral bone segments, such as the hands or feet

When Hyperpituitarism regards corticotropo hormone (ACTH), adrenal hyperplasia occurs and the disease is called Cushing's syndrome that results in the characteristic face "full moon", prominent abdomen, acne and  hirsutism.

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