1. The pituitary gland, also known as the master gland, is a pea-sized endocrine gland located below the hypothalamus and consists of anterior and posterior lobes.
2. The anterior pituitary secretes:
- Growth hormone (GH): controls body growth; deficiency causes dwarfism, excess causes gigantism or acromegaly.
- TSH: stimulates the thyroid.
- ACTH: regulates adrenal cortex.
- Gonadotropic hormones: control testes and ovaries.
3. The posterior pituitary secretes:
- ADH (vasopressin): controls water reabsorption in kidneys; deficiency causes diabetes insipidus.
- Oxytocin: triggers uterine contractions during childbirth and helps in milk ejection.
4. Tropic hormones are those that stimulate other endocrine glands to release their hormones.
5. Disorders from hormonal imbalance include gigantism, acromegaly, and diabetes insipidus.
