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Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Hormone Secretion01:19

Regulation of Hormone Secretion

Regulation of hormone secretion is a finely tuned orchestration driven by various types of stimuli, encompassing neural, humoral, and hormonal signals. Environmental cues instigate neural stimuli, where action potentials traverse nerve fibers to reach their designated targets. An illustrative scenario is the body's response to stress, wherein the sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine from the adrenal glands, inducing the well-known 'fight or flight' reaction.
Humoral stimuli,...
Hormones of the Pituitary Gland01:27

Hormones of the Pituitary Gland

The small, pea-sized pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. It is crucial in regulating various bodily functions, from growth to reproduction. The gland is divided into the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The secretory cell clusters in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary lobe are controlled by hypothalamic regulators and synthesize six primary hormones.
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...
The Pituitary Gland01:17

The Pituitary Gland

The pituitary is a small endocrine organ in the sphenoid bone under the hypothalamus. Primarily, the pituitary in adults has two distinct anatomical and functional regions— the anterior and posterior lobes. During human fetal development, a third pituitary gland region called the pars intermedia atrophies and disappears. However, some of its cells migrate and exist adjacent to the anterior pituitary in adults.
Hormonal Regulation01:40

Hormonal Regulation

Hormones regulate a significant portion of digestion through activation of the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system of digestion contains many different hormones all with multiple functions that are both, directly and indirectly, involved in digestion.
Hormonal Regulation01:33

Hormonal Regulation

The renin-aldosterone system is an endocrine system which guides the renal absorption of water and electrolytes, thus managing blood pressure and osmoregulation. Activation of the system begins in the kidneys with a small cluster of cells adjacent to the afferent and efferent blood vessels of the renal corpuscle. As the nephrons are filtering blood, juxtaglomerular cells monitor blood pressure. If they detect a decrease in pressure, they release the hormone renin into the bloodstream.
Major Hormones and Their Functions01:27

Major Hormones and Their Functions

Hormones, the biochemical messengers produced by endocrine glands, are pivotal in regulating bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. Each hormone's balance is crucial; imbalances can lead to significant physiological disruptions. Major hormones include oxytocin, cortisol, epinephrine, estrogen, testosterone, thyroxine, growth hormone, insulin, and glucagon.
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.

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Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology
09:48

Development of Organoids from Mouse Pituitary as In Vitro Model to Explore Pituitary Stem Cell Biology

Published on: February 25, 2022

Navigating pituitary structure and function - defining a roadmap for hormone secretion.

David J Hodson1, Patrice Mollard

  • 1Section of Cell Biology, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Journal of Neuroendocrinology
|June 15, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The pea-sized human pituitary gland secretes vital hormones regulating growth and stress. Recent imaging and genetic studies reveal its complex, adaptable network organization is key to its function.

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The human pituitary gland, though small, controls critical bodily functions through hormone secretion.
  • These functions include regulating growth, metabolism, and the stress response, maintaining overall homeostasis.
  • Understanding pituitary function is crucial for diagnosing and treating various endocrine disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the structural and functional organization of the human pituitary gland.
  • To investigate how recent advances in imaging and genetics can elucidate pituitary networks.
  • To understand the plasticity of these networks in relation to pituitary output.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing advanced imaging techniques for large-scale pituitary structure analysis.
  • Employing genetic interrogation methods to study pituitary function.
  • Analyzing the organizational patterns within pituitary networks.

Main Results:

  • Recent technological advances enable comprehensive study of pituitary structure and function.
  • The pituitary gland is organized into highly plastic networks.
  • These networks are fundamental to the gland's hormone secretion and regulatory output.

Conclusions:

  • The pituitary gland's function is intrinsically linked to its adaptable network organization.
  • Plasticity within these networks is a key feature of pituitary output.
  • Further research into these networks can offer new insights into endocrine regulation.