Prolactinoma: A Pituitary Tumor

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The Pituitary gland has many functions and regulations that are continuously functioning.However when there is a disruption in those functions there is an imbalance. Prolactinoma is an imbalance caused by a non cancerous tumor. The tumor causes the secretion of prolactin.Prolactin in a type of hormone in which normally stimulates lactation. In turn the body reacts to this hormone prolactin in more than one way.
The location of the pituitary gland is in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone and attaches to the hypothalamus(Marieb & Hoehn 441). The Hypothalamus is included in the function of the pituitary gland as it sends chemical stimulus to it(Marieb & Hoehn 442).Part of the pituitary is called the “ master endocrine gland” due to the fact that is produces many hormones that affect the whole body(Shannon 175).This part of the pituitary gland is called the anterior pituitary(Marieb & Hoehn 601). There are six hormones that the anterior pituitary secretes normally. These Hormones are growth hormones,thyroid stimulating hormones,adrenocorticotropic hormones,luteinizing hormones,follicle stimulating hormones and prolactin hormones( Shannon 175).The Hormone prolactin is one that in normal function stimulates the act of lactation for new mothers to feed their baby(Shannon 175).
The prolactin hormone is produced by the prolactin cells which are protein cells, primarily by the inhibitory hormone dopamine(Marieb & Hoehn 603).The hypothalamus is triggered from the increase of dopamine(Marieb & Hoehn 606).The levels of prolactin released depends on the amount of estrogen in the blood a woman has(Shannon 176).The secretion of prolactin normally happens when a woman is pregnant and after giving birth( Shannon 176). The estrogen when a...

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Works Cited

Ji Hyun, C. (2014). Hyperprolactinemia: Causes and Treatments. Clinician Reviews, 24(2), 24-27.
Eftekhari, N., Mirzaei, F., & Karimi, M. (2008). The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Gynecological Endocrinology,24(5), 289-291.
Marieb, E. N., & Hoehn, K. (2013). Human anatomy & physiology (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Mann, W. (2011). Treatment for prolactinomas and hyperprolactinaemia: a lifetime approach. European Journal Of Clinical Investigation, 41(3), 334-342.
Shannon, J. B. (2007). Endocrine and metabolic disorders sourcebook: Basic consumer health information about hormonal and matabolic disorders that affect the body's growth, development, and functioning, including disorders of the pancreas, ovaries and testes ... (2nd ed.). Detroit,, MI: Omnigraphics.

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