Regulation of metabolism, breakdown of fat, control of water content
Somatrophic Hormone (growth)
Long bones and muscles of the body
Increases rate of growth and maintains size in adulthood.
Over-secretion in children can cause gigantism,
under-secretion can cause dwarfism
Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH)
Adrenal cortex
This stimulates and controls the growth and hormonal output
of the adrenal cortex
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Sexual Organs
Controls maturation of ovarian follicles in females and sperm production in males
Gonadotrophic Hormones
Sexual Organs
These control the development and growth of the ovaries and testes
Luteinising Hormone (LH)
Sexual organs
In women this helps prepare the uterus for the fertilised
ovum and prepares breasts for lactation in pregnancy.
In men it acts on the testes to produce testosterone
Prolactin
The breasts
This stimulates the production of the milk from the breasts following birth
Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (MSH)
The skin
This stimulates the production of melanin in the basal cell layer of the skin
Posterior - behind or lower
Oxytocin
Pregnant uterus, breasts
Contraction of smooth muscle, stimulates the uterus during childbirth and
stimulates the breasts to produce milk
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) or vasopressin
Kidneys
Increase in absorption of water so less urine is
excreted. Under-secretion can cause diabetes
insipidus, which is characterised by excess
excretion of dilute urine