| Hormones of the posterior pituitary gland
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The posterior pituitary gland secretes two hormones into the circulation. Oxytocin is a small peptide hormone that stimulates smooth muscle contraction in the uterus and breast; it functions in parturition and lactation. Vasopressin (VP), also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a nine-amino-acid cyclic peptide with functions linked to the control of water metabolism, as described in Chapter 22.
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| page 525 |  | | page 526 |
| Figure 37.4 Hypothalamo-anterior pituitary regulatory target organ axes. The hypothalamo-anterior pituitary regulatory system comprises five parallel endocrine axes, regulating the biosynthesis and release of: (1) thyroid hormone; (2) glucocorticoids; (3) sex steroids; (4) growth hormone; and (5) prolactin. T4, thyroxine; T3, triiodothyronine; GHRH, growth-hormone-releasing hormone; GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; IGF1, insulin growth factor-1. (+) indicates stimulatory action and (-) inhibitory action. |
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Table 37-2.
Clinical conditions associated with pituitary hormone disorders. |
| Body_ID: None |
| Pituitary hormone disorders |
| Body_ID: T037002.50 |
| Hormone | Deficiency | Excess |
| Body_ID: T037002.100 |
| TSH | hypothyroidism | thyrotoxicosis |
| Body_ID: T037002.150 |
| ACTH | hypoadrenalism | Cushing's disease |
| Body_ID: T037002.200 |
| FSH/LH | hypogonadism | precocious puberty |
| Body_ID: T037002.250 |
| GH | short stature | gigantism/acromegaly |
| Body_ID: T037002.300 |
| prolactin | none | galactorrhea/infertility |
| Body_ID: T037002.350 |
|
