There is evidence that traumatic brain injuries (including concussions) can dama

Question

There is evidence that traumatic brain injuries (including concussions) can damage the pituitary. If a patient suffered a particularly severe brain injury that almost completely eliminated the function of the (anterior and posterior) pituitary gland, based on your knowledge of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, what would the consequences be? Your answer may include such terms as hormone, trophic hormone, steroid hormone, peptide hormone, amine hormone, hypothalamus, primary pathology, secondary pathology, tertiary pathology, thyroid releasing hormone (TRH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid gland, thyroid hormone, corticotropin releasing hormone (TRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), adrenal cortex, cortisol, growth hormone releasing hormone, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factors, gonadotropin releasing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, Sertoli cells, interstitial cells, follicle, androgens, granulosa cells, thecal cells, estrogens, menstrual cycle, ovarian cycle, uterine cycle, menstruation, etc.

Explanation / Answer

The severe traumatic brain injury can lead to damage of the hypothalamic pituitary axis. This causes the loss of feedback hypothalamic control over pituitary gland. The hypothalamus is located in the brain stem near the pituitary gland and is also responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis by coordinating many systems like endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular and central nervous system. The loss of hypothalamic pituitary axis due to traumatic brain injury causes loss of relationship between hypothalamus and pituitary. Hypothalamus secretes many releasing hormone that acts on anterior and posterior pituitary to release the corresponding hormones. For example, Corticotropic releasing hormone causes stimulation of anterior pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone and gonadotropin releasing hormone stimulates the release of LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary. Oxytocin and vasopressin are released from the posterior pituitary in the influence of the hypothalamus. In case of loss of hypothalamic pituitary axis, the release of these hormones from the anterior and posterior pituitary will be affected and body different body physiological functions will be affected like reproduction, cardiovascular system, digestive system etc.

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