Anterior Pituitary

The Pituitary gland is a small cherry-shaped structure and is attached to the base of the brain. The anterior pituitary is divided into three parts distal part, tubular part, and intermediate part. The distal part is the majority of the pituitary. The tubular part is a sheath that extends from the distal part to the pituitary stalk. The intermediate part sits between the bulk of the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary and is often very small in humans. The pituitary controls the secretion of certain hormones. The hormone that are controlled by the anterior pituitary are human growth hormone (hGH), Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Prolactin (PRL), and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH). HGH is secreted by Somatotrophs, the releasing Hormone is the growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and HGH is inhibited by the growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH). TSH is secreted by thyrotroph, the releasing hormone is the Throtropin releasing hormone (TRH) and the inhibiting hormone is (GHIH). The FSH, and LH are all secreted by Gonadotrophs and the releasing hormone is the Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). The PRL is screted by Lactotrophs, the releasing hormone is the prolactin releasing hormone (PRH), and the inhibiting hormone is the prolactin inhibiting hormone (PIH). The ACTH is secreted by Corticotrophs and the releasing hormone is the corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH).