Pituitary Gland: The Regulator
I’m really enjoying sharing this series with you. As I gather the info and create these posts, I’m amazed all over again by the miracle of our bodies. Remember, this section is dense because that’s the nature of the endocrine system. It’s our bodies’ firmware. Firmware is foundational, and controls the basic functions of hardware. The endocrine system controls foundational body processes, such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction, by releasing hormones that act like coded instructions to the organs. (The nervous system is our software, it’s changeable and reprogrammable, more on that after we get through the endocrine system!)
where is the pituitary Gland?
If you draw a line from the back of each eye toward the middle of the brain, you’ll find your pituitary gland: a pea-sized gland with two lobes. It sits in a special spot called the sella turcica literally meaning Turkish chair, it’s a saddle shaped depression in the sphenoid bone.
A little craniosacral therapy side note: The sphenoid is the keystone bone of the face. It interacts with every other bone in the face directly or indirectly. Also, the tentorium cerebelli (fascial tissue) extends from the sella turcica, meaning if there are restrictions in that connective tissue, it impacts the pituitary directly, and thus the rest of the body. This is part of the profound therapeutic effect of CST, which is why it’s core to my practice.
WHICHE HORMONES DOES IT RELEASE?
The pituitary gland is actually a three for one. It has an anterior lobe and a posterior lobe, aka the anterior pituitary and posterior pituitary, and a lesser known intermediate lobe.
THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND releases the following hormones:
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone, also called corticotrophin)
Adreno- meaning adrenal glands, cortico- meaning cortisol. ACTH stimulates our adrenal glands to release cortisol. This hormone has a bad rap as our “stress” hormone, but it’s actually our survival hormone. It helps us regulate our metabolism, blood pressure and blood sugar, suppresses inflammation, and is the opposite number to melatonin, helping us wake. ACTH also helps release androgens plus adrenaline and noradrenaline.
TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
This does exactly what it sounds like: it stimulates your thyroid to make thyroid hormones which also help to manage metabolism, literally how every cell in your body manages energy.
GH (growth hormone)
Yup, this one stimulates growth. In children it helps that kiddo get taller than her parents. In adults it helps maintain the musculoskeletal system, plus fat distribution and metabolism.
FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) & LH (luteinizing hormone) are both gonadotrophic hormones, meaning they act on the gonads (our ovaries and testes).
FSH stimulates sperm production in the testes and it stimulates the ovaries to make estrogen (playing a central role in egg development).
LH stimulates ovulation in the ovaries and testosterone production in the testes.
PROLACTIN
Pro- for, lactin milk. Yup, this one stimulates milk production during lactation post birth. It can also impact fertility and sexual function.
THE POSTERIOR PITUITARY stores & releases the following hormones (but the hypothalamus is where they’re actually made):
ADH (antidiuretic hormone, also called vasopressin)
Anti-water releasing. Vasopressin meaning blood vessel constriction. It manages our blood pressure, sodium and water levels (osmotic balance), and kidney function. This one tells the kidneys to release less water, decreasing how much urine we produce. Meaning we hold on to more water (i.e. water retention). Normally, ADH is higher during the night, which is perfect for preventing bed wetting while we’re getting our zzz’s. As you can imagine, sometimes this hormone system develops slowly in children. The phenomena of “breaking the seal” when you drink alcohol causing you to have to pee all night is because alcohol suppresses ADH. At high concentrations ADH also constricts arterioles (little arteries), creating more peripheral resistance, which raises blood pressure.
OXYTOCIN
This one helps to progress childbirth during labor (literally telling the uterus to contract (ehem, bebe ejection). It’s also responsible for “milk let down” i.e. the flow of breast milk. Interestingly, it also plays a role in sperm ejaculation and may help sperm move towards an egg following intercourse. It’s also known as the bonding hormone because it encourages parent-infant boding, romantic attachment, and sexual arousal, as well as other social interactions like trust.
THE INTERMEDIATE LOBE
MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormones)
Technically, there’s also an intermediate lobe, which is between the anterior and posterior lobes, where melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH) are synthesized. MSH are mainly responsible for regulating pigment (melanin) production in our skin. When we’re exposed to sunshine (UV rays), melanin pigments create a protective shield for our DNA. MSH also seems to play a role in appetite suppression, sexual behavior and even inflammation and immunity, this is an expanding area of study.
I know this is simultaneously fascinating and pretty dry. It’s a bit like being given nine Legos and being told they’re part of the Hogwarts Lego set…but you see no magic in a few disjunct pieces. That’s okay, the pieces will build on each other and connect, I promise.
Remember, ALL of these hormones are released from just ONE gland. This gland is constantly “taste testing” your chemical recipe, trying to keep everything in that Goldilocks range of just right. One gland is regulating your growth, metabolism, reproduction, stress, lactation, water & salt balance, and even childbirth. One gland, the pituitary gland: the regulator.
Hang with me. I know right now you’re thinking “cool, but what can I do to support my pituitary gland and everything it’s responsible for?” I promise we’ll get there! In the meantime, here’s what’s coming up next in the Tour of the Body series:
