What is the connection between the pituitary gland and the adrenal gland?
pituitary and adrenal gland are connected because the pituitary gland produces chemical messengers known as hormones that stimulate the adrenal gland to secrete its own hormones. In this way, the pituitary is controlled by the adrenal glands. It also controls other glands in the body, such as the thyroid, using a similar mechanism. The hormone, which is excreted in pituitary from the adrenal glands, is called adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce glucocorticoids that help the body solve stress.
In the brain, a structure known as hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland. The pituitary or pituitary gland lies underneath and both areas are connected by blood vessels and nerves. Hormones from the hypothalamus travel to the pituitary gland, causing it to start or stop the production of their own hormones. When the hypothalamus secretes a hormone called corticotrophin relaxing hormone (CRH), which does in response to stress, the pituitary is stimulated to produce ACTH. Comes into play a connection between the pituitary and adrenal glands because ACTH released from the pituitary glandY travels in the bloodstream to the adrenal glands.
As soon as ACTH reaches the adrenal endocrine gland, it stimulates its outer part, known as the bark to produce glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids have effects on metabolism, immune system and inflammation. They can help maintain normal blood sugar or increase the amount of blood sugar and cause fat and protein release from the body shops. Glucocorticoids also act to reduce the effects of the immune system and inflammation. For these hormones, receptors are on all cells in the body and are important in managing stressful situations such as disease, starvation and threatening events.
pituitary and renal gland, Together with hypothalamus, are involved in a complicated system of feedback mechanisms that change the production of their hormones on and off. When the amount of glucocorticoids in circulation rises above a certain level, it affects the hypothalamus, causing pSisins to produce hormone releasing corticotrophins. Lack of CRH means that pituitary is no longer stimulated to produce ACTH. Since ACTH is a messenger between the pituitary gland and the adrenal gland, the decrease in its levels means that the adrenal gland stops its secretion of glucocorticoids. Finally, when the level of glucocorticoids in the blood drops below a specific threshold, it will stimulate the hypothalamus to re -exclude CRH.