What are growth, pituitary and pubertal disorders?
The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized gland located in the centre of the brain between and behind the eyes. It is sometimes called the 鈥渕aster gland鈥 because it also controls the release of hormones from other glands. The hormones produced or controlled by the pituitary gland regulate such important functions as growth, puberty, metabolism, and the body鈥檚 response to stress.
The pituitary gland is made of the anterior and posterior lobes.
The anterior lobe produces:
- Growth hormone - regulates growth, metabolism, and body composition (bone and muscle mass and fat distribution)
- Gonadotrophins (follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone) - regulates the functioning of the ovaries and testes听听
- Prolactin - stimulates the production of breast milk during pregnancy and after birth
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone - stimulates the adrenal gland to produce hormones that regulate metabolism and the body鈥檚 response to stress
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone - stimulates the thyroid gland to produce hormones that control important metabolic functions
听The posterior produces:
- Anti-diuretic hormone 鈥 allows the kidneys to absorb more water into the blood
- Oxytocin - stimulates the uterus contraction during childbirth and production of breast milk.
听Common growth, pituitary and pubertal disorders include:
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- Constitutional delay in growth and puberty
- Familial short stature
- Growth hormone deficiency
- Poor growth secondary to chronic illnesses
Pituitary
- Multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (also known as hypopituitarism)
- Underdeveloped pituitary gland
- Pituitary adenoma, tumour or cyst
- Surgery and radiation treatment
Puberty
- Constitutional delay in growth and puberty
- Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (e.g. Kallman syndrome)
- Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism (e.g. Turner syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome)
For health professionals
For general management of a child with poor growth, please refer to the RCH Clinical Practice Guideline on听Poor Growth.
For general management of diabetes insipidus, please refer to the RCH Clinical Practice Guideline on Diabetes Insipidus.
Growth resources
Growth hormone program: and 听
Australian and New Zealand Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes - 听
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For patients and families
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Growth
ANZSPED Patient Information Summary: Growth Hormone treatment in children and adolescents听(ANZSPED May 2023)
Hormone and me booklets:
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Pituitary
Hormone and me booklets:
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Puberty
Hormone and me booklets:
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