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Anterior pituitary
Anterior pituitary The front portion of the pituitary, a small gland in the head called the master gland. Hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary influence growth, sexual development, skin pigmentation, thyroid function, and adrenocortical function. These influences are exerted through the effects of pituitary hormones on other endocrine glands except for growth hormone which acts directly on cells. The effects of underfunction of the anterior pituitary include growth retardation (dwarfism) in childhood and a decrease in all other endocrine gland functions normally under the control of the anterior pituitary (except the parathyroid glands). The results of overfunction of the anterior pituitary include overgrowth (gigantism) in children and a condition called acromegaly in adults.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Pituitary
The gland from which a number of hormones are released into the bloodstream. These hormones include growth hormone, ACTH, B-lipocortin (the precursor to B-endorphorin), FSH, LH, and TSH.
Gland
An organ that releases a chemical. Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Exocrine glands secrete externally, either through a tube or duct.
Master
Sadomasochistic vernacular term for the sadistic partner whose role is one of total domination and disciplinarian.
Hormones
Biological compounds that communicate information at a distance. Hormones require specific receptors to begin their biological action and use second messengers to initiate the cellular process that uses that information.
Anterior
The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is toward the breast bone (the sternum).
Sexual
Pertaining to sex or, more particularly, the stimulation, responsiveness, and functions of the sex organs either alone or with one or more partners.
Development
The process of growth and differentiation.
Skin
Skin is an organ of the integumentary system; which is composed of a layer of tissues that protect underlying muscles and organs. Skin is used for insulation, vitamin D production, sensation, and excretion (through sweat).
Thyroid
The gland in the throat that synthesizes thyroid hormones that affect metabolism.
Endocrine
Pertaining to hormones and the glands that make and secrete them into the bloodstream through which they travel to affect distant organs. The endocrine sites include the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroids, heart (which makes atrial-natriuretic peptide), the stomach and intestines, islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, the adrenal glands, the kidney (which makes renin, erythropoietin, and calcitriol), fat cells (which make leptin). the testes, the ovarian follicle (estrogens) and the corpus luteum in the ovary). Endocrine is as opposed to exocrine. (The exocrine glands include the salivary glands, sweat glands and glands within the gastrointestinal tract.)
Hormone
A chemical substance formed in the body that is carried in the bloodstream to affect another part of the body; an example is thyroid hormone, produced by the thyroid gland in the neck, which affects growth, temperature regulation, metabolic rate, and other body functions.
Retardation
Delay or halt of any process such as mental or physical development.
Childhood
1. The time for a boy or girl from birth until he or she is an adult. 2. The more circumscribed period of time from infancy to the onset of puberty.
Condition
The term "condition" has a number of biomedical meanings including the following: 1.An unhealthy state, such as in "this is a progressive condition." 2.A state of fitness, such as "getting into condition." 3.Something that is essential to the occurrence of something else; essentially a "precondition." 4.As a verb: to cause a change in something so that a response that was previously associated with a certain stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus; to condition a person, as in behavioral conditioning.
Acromegaly
A condition that occurs when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone. In adults, this can cause overgrowth of bones that occurs in smaller bones, such as those in the jaw, hands and feet. In children or teenagers, this can cause giantism.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Ante mortem
Before death.
Antean
Exceptionally strong or large. A multi-vitamin pill may, for example, be of Antean proportions.
Antegrade
Forward-moving. As in blood flow. Sometimes synonymous with anterograde.
Antegrade amnesia
Amnesia in which the loss of memory relates to events that occur after a traumatic event. There is inability to recall new information. Old information can be recalled. Antegrade amnesia may follow brain trauma. Also called anterograde amnesia. This type of amnesia is in contrast to retrograde amnesia in which the lack of memory relates to events that occurred before a traumatic event.
Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center
Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center is a hospital in Lancaster, California (USA).
Antenatal surgery
The surgical treatment of the fetus before birth. Also called prenatal surgery or, most often, fetal surgery.
Antepar
Antepar is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) legal in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): piperazine citrate.
Antepartum
Occurring before delivery of a baby.
Anterior
The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is toward the breast bone (the sternum).
Anterior chamber
"The space in the eye that is behind the cornea and in front of the iris. The cornea is the outer, transparent, dome-like structure that covers the iris, pupil, and the anterior chamber. The iris is the colored ring of tissue suspended behind the cornea and immediately in front of the lens; it regulates the amount of light entering the eye by adjusting the size of the pupil. The anterior chamber is filled with a watery fluid known as the aqueous humor, or aqueous. Produced by a structure alongside the lens called the ciliary body, the aqueous passes first into the posterior chamber (between the lens and iris) and then flows forward through the pupil into the anterior chamber of the eye."
Anterior cruciate injury
A knee injury involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL runs diagonally across the front of the knee from the underside of the femur (the thigh bone) to the top of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower leg).
Anterior cruciate ligament
ligament in the knee that crosses from the underside of the femur (the thigh bone) to the top of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower leg). Abbreviated ACL. Injuries to the ACL can occur in a number of situations, including sports, and can be quite serious, requiring surgery.
Anterior position
When the baby faces the back of the mother's pelvis in utero and/or during labor.
Anterior teeth
The six upper or six lower front teeth.
Anterior tongue
The front two-thirds of the tongue. In contrast to the base of the tongue, which is the back third. The distinction between the anterior and base of the tongue reflects the fact that they are of different embryological origin. The distinction also matters as regards cancer. See: Tongue cancer.
Antero-
Prefix signifying before, earlier, front. From the Latin anterior meaning before.
Anterograde
Moving forward or extending forward. Anterograde memory is memory for what occurs after an event such as an accident. Also called antegrade. From the Latin antero- + gredior (to step or go).
Anterograde amnesia
See: Antegrade amnesia.
Anterograde memory
Loss of short-term memory with retention of memories from the distant past (long-term memory).
Anteroposterior
From front to back. When a chest x-ray is taken with the back against the film plate and the x-ray machine in front of the patient it is called an anteroposterior (AP) view. As opposed to from back to front (which is called posteroanterior).
Anteroposterior (AP)
In anatomy, AP stands for anteroposterior: from front-to-back. For example, an AP X-ray of the chest is taken from front-to-back. AP in this respect is the opposite of PA, which stands for posteroanterior: from back-to-front.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Antenatal surgery
The surgical treatment of the fetus before birth. Also called prenatal surgery or, most often, fetal surgery.
Anterior
The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is toward the breast bone (the sternum).
Anterior chamber
"The space in the eye that is behind the cornea and in front of the iris. The cornea is the outer, transparent, dome-like structure that covers the iris, pupil, and the anterior chamber. The iris is the colored ring of tissue suspended behind the cornea and immediately in front of the lens; it regulates the amount of light entering the eye by adjusting the size of the pupil. The anterior chamber is filled with a watery fluid known as the aqueous humor, or aqueous. Produced by a structure alongside the lens called the ciliary body, the aqueous passes first into the posterior chamber (between the lens and iris) and then flows forward through the pupil into the anterior chamber of the eye."
Anterior cruciate injury
A knee injury involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL runs diagonally across the front of the knee from the underside of the femur (the thigh bone) to the top of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower leg).
Anterior cruciate ligament
ligament in the knee that crosses from the underside of the femur (the thigh bone) to the top of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower leg). Abbreviated ACL. Injuries to the ACL can occur in a number of situations, including sports, and can be quite serious, requiring surgery.
Anterior pituitary
Anterior tongue
The front two-thirds of the tongue. In contrast to the base of the tongue, which is the back third. The distinction between the anterior and base of the tongue reflects the fact that they are of different embryological origin. The distinction also matters as regards cancer. See: Tongue cancer.
Antero-
Prefix signifying before, earlier, front. From the Latin anterior meaning before.
Anterograde
Moving forward or extending forward. Anterograde memory is memory for what occurs after an event such as an accident. Also called antegrade. From the Latin antero- + gredior (to step or go).
Anterograde amnesia
See: Antegrade amnesia.
Anterograde memory
Loss of short-term memory with retention of memories from the distant past (long-term memory).
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