Clinical Chemistry Blog Note 22

POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

The Posterior Pituitary Gland also called as nuerohypophysis comprises the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is part of the endocrine system. There are three regions of the posterior pituitary, the posterior lobe which constitutes the majority of the posterior pituitary, the infundibular stalk or also known as the “infundibulum” or “pituitary stalk” and the median eminence which is occasionally included as part of the posterior pituitary.

According to different sources the Posterior Pituitary Gland is not a Gland, instead it is just a mere collection of large axonal projections from the hyphothalamus.

HORMONES OF THE POSTERIOR PITUITARY

There are 2 major hormones released by the Posterior Pituitary;


Oxytocin stimulates the contractions of the smooth muscle in the uterus during the last stage of pregnancy to motivate the ejection of the fetus and also responsible for producing milk in the mammary glands of women after giving birth

Vasopressin or also known as the Anti Diuretic Hormone (ADH) helps the kidneys conserve the correct amount of water in the body to regulate urine exretion.

DISORDERS OF THE POSTERIOR PITUITARY

Insufficient amount of ADH may lead to Diabetes Insipidus.
Excess amount of ADH may lead to Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH).

THANKS FOR VISITING!!! HOPE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING... -TIMIMZ

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!!

Links:
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Pituitary
http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/oxytocin.html

http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/adh.html

http://cal.man.ac.uk/student_projects/2000/mnby6kas/posterio.htm

http://www.chp.edu/CHP/P01972

http://www.chp.edu/CHP/P01974

Image Reference:
http://www.ualberta.ca/~somji/pituitary_3.GIF
http://www.as.wvu.edu/~rbrundage/lecture2c/sld012.htm

References:
A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests 7th Edition By: Frances Fischbach
John Bernard Henry 21st edition
Clinical Chemistry by Michael Bishop
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterior_pituitary_gland
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Pituitary