Endocrine Flow Chart

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Pituitary Gland (Hypophysis)

Located in the hypophyseal fossa of the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone

Function of melatonin: Coordinates body activities with sleep-wake cycles

Anterior Pituitary (glandular tissues)
Adenohypophysis

Small cone shaped gland located in the roof of the third ventricle of the brain

Pineal Gland

Produces amine hormone melatoin

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) or thyrotropin

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH) gonadotropins

Posterior Pituitary (neural tissues)
Neurohypophysis

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) corticotropin

Prolactin (PRL)

Growth hormone (GH)

Oxytocin

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Stimulates growth and energy metabolism requires intermediary proteins called somatomedins or insulin-like growth factors

Stimulates breast development and promotes and maintains lactation by the mammary glands after childbirth. It may stimulate testerone production in males.

Influences the growth and activity of the thyroid gland

Stimulates the secretion of glucocorticoids and other hormones of the adrenal cortex

In females FSH stimulates maturation of the ovarian follicles and production of estrogen. LH triggers ovulation and stimulates the production of estrogen and progesterone

In males FSH stimulates sperm production and LH stimulates production of testerone

Hyposecretion (not enough) results in dwarfism in children

Hypersecretion (excessive) causes gigantism in children and acromegaly (overgrowth of bones in hands, feet, & face in adults

causes the distal and collecting tubules of the kidneys to reabsorb more water from the urinary filtrate, thereby reducing urine output and conserving body water

Stimulates powerful uterine contractions during birth and coitus and also causes milk ejection in the lactating mother