GLOSSARY
1 - Anatomy and Physiology Basics
1.1 - Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
1.2 - Levels of Organization
1.3 - Organ Systems
1.4 - Necessary Life Functions and Survival Needs
1.5 - Homeostasis
1.6 - Anatomical Positions
1.7 - Body Cavities and Planes
2 - Cells and Tissues
2.1 - Review of Cell Structure and Function
2.2 - Cell Junctions
2.3 - Tissue Types
2.4 - Epithelial Tissue
2.5 - Connective Tissue
2.6 - Muscle Tissue
2.7 - Nervous Tissue
2.8 - The Inflammatory Response
3 - Cell Physiology
3.1 - The Cellular Environment
3.2 - Cell Transport
4 - Skin and Membranes
4.1 - Body Membranes
4.2 - Structures of the Integumentary System
4.3 - Functions of the Integumentary System
5 - Skeletal System
5.1 - Functions and Divisions of the Skeletal System
5.2 - Bone and Cartilage Types
5.3 - Structures of Long Bones
5.4 - Joint Structure and Function
5.5 - Bone Formation and Growth
5.6 - Blood Calcium Regulation and Feedback
5.7 - Anatomy of the Skeletal System
5.8 - Anatomy of the Skull
6 - Muscular System
6.1 - Introduction to Muscle Types
6.2 - Sketetal Muscle Contraction
6.3 - Action Potential Generation in Skeletal Muscle
6.4 - Muscle Energetics and Fatigue
6.5 - Skeletal Muscle Anatomy
6.6 - Facial Muscle Anatomy
6.7 - Body Movements
7 - Nervous System (Part I)
7.1 - Nervous System Functions and Organization
7.2 - Nervous Tissue
7.3 - Nervous Tissue Physiology
7.4 - Synaptic Transmission
7.5 - Protective Structures of the CNS
7.6 - Brain Regions and Anatomy
7.7 - Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves
8 - Nervous System (Part II)
8.1 - Nerve Types
8.2 - Reflexes
8.3 - Cranial Nerves
8.4 - Peripheral Nervous System Organization
8.5 - ANS Physiology and Regulation
8.6 - The senses: Introduction
8.7 - Taste and Smell
8.8 - Vision
8.9 - Hearing and Equilibrium
9 - Endocrine System
9.1 - Endocrine System Overview
9.2 - Major Endocrine Glands
9.3 - Hormones
9.4 - Hormone Mode of Action
9.5 - Hypothalamus and Pituitary
9.6 - Adrenal Gland
9.7 - Stress Responses
9.8 - Pancreas
10 - Reproductive Systems
10.1 - Male Reproductive System
10.2 - Sperm and Testosterone Production
10.3 - Female Reproductive System
10.4 - Female Reproductive Cycles
10.5 - Mammary Glands
10.6 - Fertilization
10.7 - Embryology
10.8 - Labor and Delivery
11 - Circulatory System
11.1 - Heart Basics
11.2 - Cardiac Cycle
11.3 - Blood Vessel Structure and Function
11.4 - Pulse and Blood Pressure
11.5 - Specialized Circulatory Stuctures
11.6 - Blood Cell Types
11.7 - Hematopoiesis and Hemostasis
11.8 - Blood Groups and Blood Typing
12 - Respiratory System
12.1 - Respiratory System Anatomy
12.2 - Pulmonary Ventilation
12.3 - External Respiration
12.4 - Respiratory Gas Transport
12.5 - Internal Respiration
12.6 - Control of Respiration
13 - Digestive System
13.1 - Introduction: The Alimentary Canal
13.2 - Upper GI Tract
13.3 - Lower GI Tract
13.4 - Nervous Control of Digestion
13.5 - Teeth
13.6 - Salivary Glands
13.7 - Pancreas
13.8 - Liver
13.9 - Metabolism
13.10 - Anatomy of the Digestive System
14 - Urinary System
14.1 - Functions of the Urinary System
14.2 - Urinary System Anatomy
14.3 - Micturition
14.4 - Kidney Anatomy
14.5 - The Nephron
14.6 - Urine Formation and Composition
14.7 - Blood Pressure and the Kidney
14.8 - pH Balance and the Kidney
15 - Microbiology
15.1 - Microbiology Basics
15.2 - Protozoans
15.3 - Fungi
15.4 - Bacteria
15.5 - Viruses and Prions
15.6 - Infection
15.7 - Transmission and Control of Infection
16 - Lymphatic System and Immunity
16.1 - Lymphatic System Overview
16.2 - Lymphatic Vessels
16.3 - Lymphoid Tissues
16.4 - Non-specific Body Defenses: Surface Barriers
16.5 - Non-Specific Internal Defenses
16.6 - Specific Defenses Overview
16.7 - Immune System Cells
16.8 - Humoral Immune Responses
16.9 - Cell-mediated Immunity
16.10 - Acquiring Immunity
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> 9.5 - Hypothalamus and Pituitary
Digital Activities
9.5 - Hypothalamus and Pituitary
Together the
hypothalamus
and
pituitary gland
control most of the
endocrine
functions
of the human body.
Hypothalamus
The
hypothalamus
is a
nervous tissue
structure
immediatley
superior
to the
pituitary gland
. It is connected to the pituitary by the
hypothalamic pituitary stalk
, which contains the
axons
of
neurosecretory neurons
and
blood vessels
of the
hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system
.
The
neurosecretory neurons
of the
hypothalamus
manufacture two types of
hormones
:
Releasing hormones
control the
anterior pituitary gland
cells
, regulating the time and rate at which they
secrete
hormones
Posterior pituitary hormones
, which are produced in the
hypothalamus
but
secreted
in the
posterior pituitary
.
The
hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal system
is a
system
of small
blood vessels
that joins
capillary beds
in the
hypothalamus
and
anterior pituitary
. It carries
releasing hormones
from the
neurosecretory neurons
to the
gland
cells
of the
anterior pituitary
.
Pituitary gland
Also called the
hypophysis
, the
pituitary gland
is often called the "master
gland
" becaues of the
number
of
endocrine
and physiological
functions
it controls.
The
pituitary gland
consists of two parts: The
posterior pituitary (neurophysis)
and the
anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis)
. The two parts of the
pituitary gland
function
completely independent of one another, but both are controlled by input from the
hypothalamus
.
Posterior pituitary gland
The
posterior pituitary
consists of
nervous tissue
does not manufacture its own
hormones
. The
hypothalamus
manufactures two
hormones
to be released in the posterior pituitary:
Oxytocin
and
antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
.
Neurosecretory neurons
manufacture
oxytocin
and
ADH
.
The
hormones
travel down the
axons
of the
neurosecretory neurons
inside
vesicles
to the
posterior pituitary
.
When an
action potential
arrives at the
axon terminals
, the hormone
vesicles
release their contents into the
systemic
capillaries
in the
posterior pituitary
.
Anterior pituitary gland
The
anterior pituitary gland
consists of
glandular epithelial tissue
and manufactures its own
hormones
.
Releasing hormones
travel from the
hypothalamus
through the
hypothalamic-hypohyseal portal system
to the
anterior pituitary
.
The
releasing hormones
activate specific hormone-producing
endocrine
cells
of the
anterior pituitary gland
.
The
endocrine
cells
secrete
their
hormones
into the venous
systemic
circulation.
The
anterior pituitary gland
produces several
hormones
:
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
Prolactin (PRL)
Growth hormone (GH)
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
All
hormones
of the
anterior pituitary gland
are
tropic hormones
and stimulate other
endocrine glands
.
Click here for an digital activity on the hormones of the pituitary gland
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1 - Anatomy and Physiology Basics