00:01
I’m going to explain the structure of the
pituitary gland, the histological structure.
00:07
The pituitary gland is a major gland in the
endocrine system. It’s often referred to
as being the master gland. And what I’d like you
to understand at the end of this lecture
is firstly, what a hormone is or a chemical
messenger is. And also understand that the
pituitary gland is really two different glands
because it’s derived from very different
embryological sources. It’s important also to
understand that the pituitary is connected
to the hypothalamus, both by a very special
portal blood system and also by having neurons
extending from the hypothalamus into the pituitary.
And these neurons are forming a very important
part of the pituitary gland or at least one
part of the pituitary gland. And then finally, within
the pituitary, there are a number of different
cell types. It’s important that you understand
different cell types that are there, and what
their secretory products are. At the end of
all studies of endocrine systems, then there
are endocrine glands that consist of endocrine
glands, endocrine cells that have a variety
of different functions. They are derived from
a variety of different places in the body
during embryological development. They secrete
their products into the blood stream, and they
have hormones that regulate the activities
of many organs of the body. They also function
along with the nervous system, but their effects
are often slow and more prolonged. And their
vital function is to maintain homeostasis
and control a number of other functions within
the body, general function such as growth,
development, and also reproduction.