Hormones secreted by the anterior

and posterior pituitary and their

mechanism of action and function
 Pituitary gland
• Pituitary Gland: Two Distinct Parts–The Anterior and
Posterior Lobes.: The pituitary gland also called the
hypophysis
• Size = is a small gland—about 1 centimeter in diameter and
0.5 to 1 gram in weight
• Location = lies in the sella turcica, a bony cavity at the base
of the brain
• Connection to hypothalamus = by the pituitary (or
hypophysial) stalk
 Parts of pituitary glands

• Physiologically, the pituitary gland is divisible into

two distinct portions:
1. The anterior pituitary, also known as the
adenohypophysis.(adeno=gland, hypo=under,
physis= growth)
2. The posterior pituitary, also known as the
neurohypophysis.
• Between these is a small, relatively avascular zone
called the pars intermedia.
 Hormones release by Ant. Pituitary
(adenohypophysial hormones)

1. Growth hormone ( GH, Somatotropin)

2. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, corticotropin)
3. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
4. Prolactin (PRL)
5. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
6. Luteinizing hormone (LH) in females or
interstitialcell- stimulating hormone (ICSH) in males
Cell Hormones Function

Somatotropes Growth hormone • Stimulates body growth

(GH;somatotropin) • stimulates lipolysis;
• inhibits actions of insulin
on carbohydrate and lipid
metabolism

Corticotropes Adrenocorticotropic hormone Stimulates production of

(ACTH; corticotropin)
glucocorticoids
and androgens by the adrenal
cortex;
maintains size of zona
fasciculata and
zona reticularis of cortex
Cell Hormone Function
Thyrotropes Thyroid-stimulating Stimulates production of
hormone (TSH; thyroid
thyrotropin) hormones by thyroid
follicular cells;
maintains size of follicular
cells

Lactotropes,
Prolactin (PRL) Stimulates milk secretion
Mammotropes and production
IGF, insulin-like
growth factor
Cell Hormone Function

Gonadotropes Follicle-stimulating hormone • Stimulates

(FSH), ICSH in males. development of
ovarian follicles;
regulates
spermatogenesis in
the testis
• Causes ovulation and
formation of the
corpus luteum in the
ovary;
• stimulates
production of
estrogen and
progesterone by the
ovary;
Luteinizing hormone (LH) • Stimulate release of
an egg from the
ovary
Hormones release by posterior Pituitary
( neurohyposphyseal hormones)

Hypothalamo-hypophyseal tracts
Cell Hormones Function

Supra optic nucleus of Anti-Diuretic Hormone Retention of water by

hypothalamus (ADH) reabsorbing water from
(large quantity) distal convulated tubules &
collecting ducts of kidneys.
Para ventricular nucleus
(small quantity) Vasopressor action
Constriction of blood
arteries thus regulate BP
Cell Hormones Function

Para ventricular nucleus Oxytocin Action on mammary glands

(large quantity ) (milk ejection)

Supraoptic nucleus of Action on uterus

hypothalamus (small quantity increase contractions &
) labour pains)