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adenohypophysis

 
Dictionary: ad·e·no·hy·poph·y·sis   (ăd'n-ō-hī-pŏf'ĭ-sĭs) pronunciation
n.
The anterior glandular lobe of the pituitary gland that secretes many hormones, including ACTH, prolactin, and somatotropin.

adenohypophyseal ad'e·no·hy·poph'y·se'al or ad'e·no·hy·poph'y·si'al (-pŏf'ĭ-sē'əl) adj.

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Sports Science and Medicine: adenohypophysis
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anterior pituitary

The anterior part of the pituitary gland.

Veterinary Dictionary: adenohypophysis
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The so-called anterior lobe of the hypophysis cerebri (see also pituitary), which in domestic animals mostly surrounds the posterior lobe. It develops from the roof of the embryonic mouth and is divided into a large pars distalis, a smaller pars tuberalis and a pars intermedia. It secretes hormones under the control of releasing agents which arrive from the hypothalamus via a hypothalamohypophyseal portal system. The hormones include growth hormone, ACTH, beta-lipotropin, prolactin, thyrotropic hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.
See also adenohypophyseal.

Wikipedia: Anterior pituitary
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Anterior pituitary
Gray1181.png
Median sagittal through the hypophysis of an adult monkey. Semidiagrammatic.
Latin lobus anterior hypophyseos
Gray's subject #275 1275
Artery superior hypophyseal
Vein hypophyseal
Precursor oral mucosa (Rathke's pouch)
MeSH Anterior+Pituitary+Gland

A major organ of the endocrine system, the anterior pituitary, also called the adenohypophysis, is the glandular, anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The anterior pituitary regulates several physiological processes including stress, growth, and reproduction.

Its regulatory functions are achieved through the secretion of various peptide hormones that act on target organs including the adrenal gland, liver, bone, thyroid gland, and gonads. The anterior pituitary itself is regulated by the hypothalamus and by negative feedback from these target organs.

Disorders of the anterior pituitary are generally classified by the presence of over- or underproduction of pituitary hormones. For example, a prolactinoma is a pituitary adenoma that overproduces prolactin. In Sheehan's syndrome of postpartum hypopituitarism, the anterior pituitary uniformly malfunctions and underproduces all hormones. Proper function of the anterior pituitary and of the organs it regulates can often be ascertained via blood tests that measure hormone levels.

Contents

Anatomy

The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland that sits in a protective bony enclosure called the sella turcica. It is composed of three lobes: anterior, intermerdiate, and posterior. In many animals, these three lobes are distinct. However, in humans, the intermediate lobe is but a few cell layers thick and indistinct; as a result, it is often considered part of the anterior pituitary. In all animals, the fleshy, glandular anterior pituitary is distinct from the neural composition of the posterior pituitary.

The anterior pituitary is composed of multiple parts:

Pars distalis
The pars distalis, or "distal part", comprises the majority of the anterior pituitary and is where the bulk of pituitary hormone production occurs. Occasionally, "pars distalis" is incorrectly used as a synonym for the anterior pituitary.[citation needed]
Pars tuberalis
The pars tuberalis, or "tubular part", forms a sheath extending up from the pars distalis and wrapping around the pituitary stalk. Its function is poorly understood.
Pars intermedia
The pars intermedia, or "intermediate part", sits between the pars distalis and the posterior pituitary and is often very small in humans.

Embryology

The anterior pituitary arises from an invagination of the oral ectoderm and forms Rathke's pouch. This contrasts with the posterior pituitary, which originates from neuroectoderm.

Major hormones secreted

Hormone Other names Symbol(s) Structure Secretory cells Staining Target Effect
Adrenocorticotropic hormone Corticotropin ACTH Polypeptide Corticotrophs Basophil Adrenal gland Secretion of glucocorticoids
Beta-endorphin Polypeptide Corticotrophs Basophil Opioid receptor Inhibit perception of pain
Thyroid-stimulating hormone Thyrotropin TSH Glycoprotein Thyrotrophs Basophil Thyroid gland Secretion of thyroid hormones
Follicle-stimulating hormone - FSH Glycoprotein Gonadotrophs Basophil Gonads Growth of reproductive system
Luteinizing hormone Lutropin LH, ICSH Glycoprotein Gonadotrophs Basophil Gonads Sex hormone production
Growth hormone Somatotropin GH, STH Polypeptide Somatotrophs Acidophil Liver, adipose tissue Promotes growth; lipid and carbohydrate metabolism
Prolactin Lactogenic hormone PRL Polypeptide Lactotrophs and Mammotrophs Acidophil Ovaries, mammary glands Secretion of estrogens/progesterone; milk production

One mnemonic used to remember the hormones produced by the anterior pituitary is: FLAT PEG (FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH, Prolactin, Endorphins and GH).

Another helpful mnemonic is that the hormones released by the basophiles are FLAT from BLUE cells, while the acidophiles are PEG from RED cells.

FLAGTOP is another useful mnemonic (FSH, LH, ACTH, GH, TSH, Oxytocin, Prolactin). Note, however, that oxytocin is a hormone of the posterior pituitary.

A mnemonic to remember which hormones are acidophilic and basophilic is: GPA B-FLAT "GH, prolactin -Acidophiles" "Basophiles- FSH,LH,ACTH,TSH"

The acidophilic cells (GH and PRL) have extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum and produce single chain polypeptides without any glycosylation or phosphorylation. Basophilic staining results form lysosome action modifying the hormones (or prohormones in the case of corticotrophs) by glycosylation.

Regulation

Hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary gland is regulated by hormones secreted by the hypothalamus. Neuroendocrine neurons in the hypothalamus project axons to the median eminence, at the base of the brain. At this site, these neurons can release substances into small blood vessels that travel directly to the anterior pituitary gland (the hypothalamo-hypophysial portal vessels).

Etymology

The anterior pituitary is also known as the adenohypophysis, meaning "glandular undergrowth", from the Greek adeno ("gland"), hypo ("under"), and physis ("growth").

Additional images

See also

External links


 
 
Learn More
intermediate lobe (anatomy)
pars intermedia (anatomy)
mammotrope

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Anterior pituitary" Read more