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| This glossary contains: 19186 medical terms |
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Pituitary
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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.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
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.
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.
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.
ACTH
Acth 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): corticotropin.
TSH
Thyroid-stimulating hormone. A pituitary hormone that stimulates thyroid hormone production.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Pituitary gland
An endocrine gland situated deep in the brain in the midline behind the eyes, and directly associated with the hypothalamus. The hormones of the anterior pituitary regulate many functions of the other endocrine glands of the body. The pituitary is also known as the hypophysis.
Pituitary Gland
An endocrine gland in the small, bony cavity at the base of the brain. Often called "the master gland," the pituitary serves the body in many ways-in growth, in food use, and in reproduction.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Polynucleotides
Long chains of nucleotides formed by chemical links between the sugar and phosphate groups.
Pyrimidine
A nitrogen-containing, double-ring, basic compound that occurs in nucleic acids. The pyrimidines in DNA are cytosine and thymine; in RNA, cytosine and uracil.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
PCR. A method for amplifying a DNA base sequence using a heat-stable polymerase and two 20-base primers, one complementary to the (+) strand at one end of the sequence to be amplified and one complementary to the (-) strand at the other end. Because the newly synthesized DNA strands can subsequently serve as additional templates for the same primer sequences, successive rounds of primer annealing, strand elongation, and dissociation produce rapid and highly specific amplification of the desired sequence. PCR also can be used to detect the existence of the defined sequence in a DNA sample.
Putative father
Males alleged or reputed to be biological fathers of illegitimate children.
Pineal
The gland located within the brain that synthesizes melatonin.
Pituitary
Progesterone
A hormone produced in response to luteinizing hormone (LH) released from the pituitary gland. It is required to flush out the uterus if an egg is not fertilized. It is also useful for stimulating the growth of new bone mass.
Progestins
Synthetic analogs of progesterone that have some of the properties of natural progesterone.
Photoreceptor
A light sensitive neuron. Photoreceptors interact with light which produces changes in their electrical properties which are communicated to other neurons. They constitute the first stage in the physiological process which underlies vision. The human retina, like the retina of most vertebrates, contains two broad classes of photo-receptors, rods and cones.
Paternity test
A test based on blood groups to determine whether a particular man could be the biological father of a particular child; negative results prove he was not the father but positive results show only that he could be.
Penis
The male sex organ, which consists of a head called glans, and the shaft or body. At the tip of the glans is the urethral opening, through which urine and semen leave the body. The shaft or the body of the penis is made of spongy tissue and blood vessels. And it fills with blood an grows in size (becomes erect) during sexual excitement.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
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.
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.
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.
ACTH
Acth 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): corticotropin.
TSH
Thyroid-stimulating hormone. A pituitary hormone that stimulates thyroid hormone production.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Pituitary gland
An endocrine gland situated deep in the brain in the midline behind the eyes, and directly associated with the hypothalamus. The hormones of the anterior pituitary regulate many functions of the other endocrine glands of the body. The pituitary is also known as the hypophysis.
Pituitary Gland
An endocrine gland in the small, bony cavity at the base of the brain. Often called "the master gland," the pituitary serves the body in many ways-in growth, in food use, and in reproduction.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Polynucleotides
Long chains of nucleotides formed by chemical links between the sugar and phosphate groups.
Pyrimidine
A nitrogen-containing, double-ring, basic compound that occurs in nucleic acids. The pyrimidines in DNA are cytosine and thymine; in RNA, cytosine and uracil.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
PCR. A method for amplifying a DNA base sequence using a heat-stable polymerase and two 20-base primers, one complementary to the (+) strand at one end of the sequence to be amplified and one complementary to the (-) strand at the other end. Because the newly synthesized DNA strands can subsequently serve as additional templates for the same primer sequences, successive rounds of primer annealing, strand elongation, and dissociation produce rapid and highly specific amplification of the desired sequence. PCR also can be used to detect the existence of the defined sequence in a DNA sample.
Putative father
Males alleged or reputed to be biological fathers of illegitimate children.
Pineal
The gland located within the brain that synthesizes melatonin.
Pituitary
Progesterone
A hormone produced in response to luteinizing hormone (LH) released from the pituitary gland. It is required to flush out the uterus if an egg is not fertilized. It is also useful for stimulating the growth of new bone mass.
Progestins
Synthetic analogs of progesterone that have some of the properties of natural progesterone.
Photoreceptor
A light sensitive neuron. Photoreceptors interact with light which produces changes in their electrical properties which are communicated to other neurons. They constitute the first stage in the physiological process which underlies vision. The human retina, like the retina of most vertebrates, contains two broad classes of photo-receptors, rods and cones.
Paternity test
A test based on blood groups to determine whether a particular man could be the biological father of a particular child; negative results prove he was not the father but positive results show only that he could be.
Penis
The male sex organ, which consists of a head called glans, and the shaft or body. At the tip of the glans is the urethral opening, through which urine and semen leave the body. The shaft or the body of the penis is made of spongy tissue and blood vessels. And it fills with blood an grows in size (becomes erect) during sexual excitement.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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