Pituitary stalk

Pituitary Stalk

The Pituitary Stalk also known as the infundibulum or hypophyseal stalk, is a thin piece of tissue that connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland. It plays a crucial role in the endocrine system, facilitating the transport of hormones from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland.

Structure

The pituitary stalk is a slender, tubular structure that extends downward from the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls many bodily functions. The stalk connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. The pituitary gland is divided into two parts: the anterior pituitary and the posterior pituitary, both of which are connected to the hypothalamus by the pituitary stalk.

Function

The primary function of the pituitary stalk is to transport hormones from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland. These hormones include thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), and somatostatin.

Once these hormones reach the pituitary gland, they stimulate the gland to produce and release its own hormones, which then travel through the bloodstream to target organs throughout the body. These hormones regulate a wide range of bodily functions, including growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress response.

Clinical significance

Damage to the pituitary stalk can lead to a variety of medical conditions. For example, a pituitary tumor can compress the stalk, disrupting hormone transport and leading to symptoms such as hypopituitarism, a condition characterized by reduced hormone production by the pituitary gland. Other conditions that can affect the pituitary stalk include diabetes insipidus, hyperprolactinemia, and empty sella syndrome.

See also

• Hypothalamic–pituitary–somatic axis
• Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis
• Hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis
• Hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis

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References

External links

• NCBI Bookshelf: Hypothalamic and Pituitary Gland
• Britannica: Pituitary Gland