The pituitary gland is no larger than a pea, and is located at the base of the brain . The gland is attached to the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that affects the pituitary gland) by nerve fibers and blood vessels. The pituitary gland itself consists of 2 major structures: Anterior lobe.
What can cause the pituitary gland to malfunction?
A malfunction in the pituitary gland like hyperpituitarism is most likely caused by a tumor . The most common type of tumor is called an adenoma and is noncancerous. The tumor can cause the pituitary gland to overproduce hormones. The tumor, or fluid that fills in around, it may also press on the pituitary gland.
What are the symptoms of a malfunctioning pituitary gland?
- Anxiety or depression.
- Diabetes.
- Hair loss.
- High blood pressure.
- Irregular menstrual periods.
- Unexpected breast milk production.
- Low energy or low sex drive.
- Stunted growth or unusual growth spurts.
What is the main function of pituitary gland?
Your pituitary gland is an important pea-sized organ. If your pituitary gland doesn’t function properly, it affects vital parts like your brain, skin, energy, mood, reproductive organs, vision, growth and more. It’s the “master” gland because it tells other glands to release hormones .
Is the pituitary gland medial to the brain?
The pituitary gland sits below the brain in a midline pocket or fossa of the sphenoid bone known as the sella turcica, imaginatively named by anatomists because of its likeness to a Turkish horse saddle. Embryologically, anatomically and functionally the human gland is divided into two lobes.
How do you fix your pituitary gland?
- Corticosteroids. These drugs, such as hydrocortisone (Cortef) or prednisone (Rayos), replace the adrenal hormones that aren’t being produced because of an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency. ...
- Levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, others). ...
- Sex hormones. ...
- Growth hormone. ...
- Fertility hormones.
Can you live without the pituitary gland?
The pituitary gland is called the master gland of the endocrine system. This is because it controls many other hormone glands in the body. According to The Pituitary Foundation, without it, the body wouldn’t reproduce , wouldn’t grow properly and many other bodily functions just wouldn’t function.
How do you treat pituitary gland problems?
- Stereotactic radiosurgery. ...
- External beam radiation. ...
- Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). ...
- Proton beam therapy.
What does a pituitary tumor headache feel like?
Headache pain in these situations is typically characterized by steady, bifrontal or unilateral frontal aching (ipsilateral to tumor). In some instances, pain is localized in the midface (either because of involvement of the second division of the trigeminal or secondary to sinusitis).
Can you live a normal life with a pituitary tumor?
In general, when a pituitary tumor is not cured, people live out their lives but may have to deal with problems caused by the tumor or its treatment, such as vision problems or hormone levels that are too high or too low.
How does the pituitary gland affect behavior?
The pituitary gland is responsible for regulating both behavioural aspects and also the body growth . ... The hormones secreted by the pituitary glands influence the testes and ovaries in making of sex hormones and equally control the menstrual cycle and ovulation process in women.
What foods stimulate the pituitary gland?
These include foods like eggs, fish, mustard seeds, tomatoes, nuts, grapes, raspberries and pomegranate . Another study found that a tryptophan-rich meal, combined with exposure to bright light outdoors during the day, significantly boosted HGH levels. Tryptophan-rich foods include eggs, milk, grains, beans and meat.
What side is the pituitary gland on?
Pituitary gland and hypothalamus
The pituitary gland is a small, bean-shaped gland situated at the base of your brain , somewhat behind your nose and between your ears. Despite its small size, the gland influences nearly every part of your body.
Will I lose weight after pituitary tumor is removed?
In general, most patients lose all of the weight they are going to lose within a year of surgery with most of the weight loss occurring between four and eight months after surgery. The final weight achieved is usually going to be that of your expected weight based on family traits, lifestyle, dietary factors etc.
Can a blood test detect a pituitary tumor?
To diagnose functional pituitary adenomas, doctors may run blood tests or other diagnostic tests to look for abnormally high amounts of: adrenocortisol (ACTH) and cortisol. growth hormone ( GH ) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) prolactin.
What happens if pituitary gland is damaged?
The endocrine system is a group of glands that produce and secrete hormones to regulate your body’s processes. In hypopituitarism, the pituitary gland fails to produce or doesn’t produce enough of one or more of its hormones. When your pituitary gland doesn’t produce enough hormones, your body functions are affected.
