Growth hormone (GH): This hormone regulates your body’s growth (especially in children), metabolism and body composition (such as how much fat, muscle and fluids you have).

You’re probably familiar with the role of cortisol in the “fight-or-flight” instinct. Cortisol is the main stress hormone in your body, which keeps inflammation down and your blood pressure steady.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) : This hormone causes your adrenal glands to produce steroid hormones, especially cortisol.

Your anterior lobe makes up about 80% of your pituitary gland and releases these hormones: Your pituitary gland consists of three parts: the anterior, intermediate and posterior lobes. Your brain tells your pituitary gland to increase or decrease the secretion of certain hormones. The right settings for your body depend upon many things, including your sex, weight distribution and how active you are.īlood vessels connect your pituitary gland to a part of your brain called the hypothalamus. Your pituitary gland sends signals to your organs and glands to tell them what functions are needed and when. Your pituitary gland monitors your body functions in much the same way.

It sends signals to your heating and cooling systems to turn up or down - and by how many degrees - to keep air temperatures constant. The thermostat performs constant temperature checks in your home to keep you comfortable. Think of your pituitary gland like a thermostat. Most importantly, it controls the activity of your thyroid gland, adrenal gland and gonadal glands (ovaries or testes). Sometimes the pituitary is called the “master gland” because it controls the activity of other endocrine glands. Your endocrine system affects almost every cell and organ in your body. Endocrine glands release (secrete) hormones into your bloodstream that control your body’s functions.

It’s a pea-sized, cherry-shaped endocrine gland located near the base of your brain. The pituitary gland plays a major role in controlling how your body works. An overactive pituitary gland can cause a variety of disorders that affect growth, metabolism, reproduction and other vital body functions. A noncancerous (benign) tumor in the gland, called a pituitary adenoma, is usually the cause of this condition.

When your pituitary gland is overactive, it releases excessive amounts of certain types of pituitary hormones into your bloodstream. What is hyperpituitarism (overactive pituitary gland)?

Medication for overactive adrenal gland