Clinical Chemistry 20-C

Wonder fills the air as I hear the word Pituitary..

Then it whispered to me, "Selina, please google me.."

But then I started to shiver, I was frightened..

Sweaty palms and senses heightened..

"Oh God, please help me!" words I uttered on bended knees..

Confusion sinks in, fright started to ease..

Is this dementia or some kind of disease?

Did it just speak to me or was it just the breeze?

I sat down confused and turned to my PC..

Clicked on a page and I was like "OH EM GEE!"

The pituitary is no larger than a pea!

I scrolled down and it explained further to me..

Two parts it is comprised of, posterior and anterior

Awestruck and inquisitive, I said “what are they for?”

Vasopressin and Oxytocin secreted by posterior..

Anterior lobe I will elucidate furthermore..

Adenohypophysis, a name it is better known,

Marveling eyes dilated, dexterity honed,

Information overload as I sighed and moaned..

Now I will tell you about its hormones..

Growth hormone (GH) also known as somatotropin,

Peaks greatest at puberty, with age, slowly declining..

Its deficiency will cause dwarfism..

Excessive production leads to acgromegaly or gigantism..

Thyrotrophs secrete Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)..

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is what causes its stimulation..

Inhibition is caused by the arrival of somatostatin..

Also known as thyrotropin, did you know it's a glycoprotein?

Do I have to further enlighten you about what it does?

I reckon it is a little bit too obvious..

But for you, if its function is unbeknownst,

It stimulates the thyroid gland to produce its hormones..

Prolactin is secreted by lactotrophs of the pituitary..

Its levels kept low by dopamine, which is inhibitory..

Responsible for initiation and maintenance of lactation..

Its secretion, as I read on, is in a circadian fashion..

Pituitary necrosis or infarction is seen with its deficiency..

For women, so is menstrual disorders and infertility..

Hyperprolactinemia leads to inhibition of GnRH secretion..

Which also results to infertility and sexual dysfunction..

My head is throbbing, I can feel the stabbing pain..

My heart is pounding, juices leaking out of my brain..

I think I am losing my grip on reality again..

As I took a sigh of relief, I closed my eyes and counted to ten..

Secreted by gonadotrophs is the Leutenizing hormone (LH)..

Stimulation of Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone..

In the middle of the menstrual cycle, prompts the ovulation..

Are you sick of the rhyming? It then produces progesterone..

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is next on the list..

Are you aware that without this you and I would not exist?

In females, it acts upon the follicle to release estrogen..

I may be hyperventilating, I think I need some oxygen..

In males, it stimulates the production of the sperm..

Yes, the little things that swim around and squirm..

Deficiency of FSH may halt spermatogenesis..

And in females, failure of ovulation by the ovaries..

The corticotrophs secrete Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)..

Which then forms the last hormone, Adrenocorticotropin(ACTH)..

Acts upon the cells of the Adrenal cortex and stimulates it..

Am I boring you? I promise you this is the last bit..

Cushing's disease, result of overproduction of Adenocorticotropin..

Insufficient amount leads to hypopituitarism..

I am sure you enjoyed the rhyming trend..

But I am certain you are ecstatic that this is the END.. :)

HAPPY READING ! Hope you enjoyed the poem.. :) ( I swear I worked hard on it..:P )