How many anterior pituitary hormones

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Previous Chapter. Next Chapter. Larry Jameson. Anterior Pituitary: Physiology of Pituitary Hormones. Dennis Kasper, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19e. McGraw Hill; The anterior pituitary is composed of multiple parts: Pars distalis: This is the distal part that comprises the majority of the anterior pituitary; it is where most pituitary hormone production occurs. Pars tuberalis: This is the tubular part that forms a sheath that extends up from the pars distalis and wraps around the pituitary stalk.

Its function is poorly understood. Pars intermedia: This is the intermediate part that sits between the pars distalis and the posterior pituitary and is often very small in humans. The effects of ACTH are upon secretion of glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoids, and sex corticoids. Beta-endorphin is a polypeptide that effects the opioid receptor, whose effects include the inhibition of the perception of pain.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone is a glycoprotein hormone that affects the thyroid gland and the secretion of thyroid hormones. Follicle-stimulating hormone is a glycoprotein hormone that targets the gonads and effects the growth of the reproductive system. Luteinizing hormone is a glycoprotein hormone that targets the gonads to effect sex-hormone production. Growth hormone is a polypeptide hormone that targets the liver and adipose tissue and promotes growth through lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

Such praise is justified in the sense that the anterior and posterior pituitary secrete a battery of hormones that collectively influence all cells and affect virtually all physiologic processes. The pituitary gland may be king, but the power behind the throne is clearly the hypothalamus. As alluded to in the last section, some of the neurons within the hypothalamus - neurosecretory neurons - secrete hormones that strictly control secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary.

The hypothalamic hormones are referred to as releasing hormones and inhibiting hormones , reflecting their influence on anterior pituitary hormones. Hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones are carried directly to the anterior pituitary gland via hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal veins.

Specific hypothalamic hormones bind to receptors on specific anterior pituitary cells, modulating the release of the hormone they produce. As an example, thyroid-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus binds to receptors on anterior pituitary cells called thyrotrophs, stimulating them to secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH. The anterior pituitary hormones enter the systemic circulation and bind to their receptors on other target organs.